Come together: Saifuddin Nasution (middle) with the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain (second from right) and leaders of media houses during the engagement session in Putrajaya. — Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: The controversial operations and ongoing investigations into Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB) will be debated in the upcoming Parliament session, which starts on Oct 14.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a ministerial statement is scheduled to be tabled on the second day of the sitting to give MPs room to debate the issue.
“It’s an opportunity for MPs to debate the issue, as the budget will be tabled on Friday and the debate session is set for the following week,” he said during an engagement session with editors-in-chief from the country’s media industry yesterday.
Also present were Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and Star Media Group chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng.
In PENGERANG, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said a total of three ministers are expected to table their findings on GISB in Parliament on Oct 15.
“Other than the Home Minister, the other two are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri,” she said.
She added that the three ministers would be tabling GISB issues related to their respective ministry portfolios, such as legal violation, Islamic belief (aqidah) and welfare of GISB children.
Azalina, who is Pengerang MP, said the tabling would start at 11am on Tuesday and expressed hope that it would give Malaysians more clarity over the whole GISB issue.
When asked if there is a need to further strengthen certain laws, including the Sexual Offences against Children Act 2017, Azalina said she believes the Act is already strong enough.“The real issue is how it is being used by the public to protect children’s safety and security.
“As an example, under Section 19 of the same Act, it is an offence to not report a crime happening against a child. This is why it is important for the public to know about their legal rights,” she said.
A total of 16 individuals, including senior management from GISB, were rearrested on Thursday in connection with allegations of child exploitation and religious indoctrination.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said since the launch of Ops Global in September, 58 individuals have been detained under the same act.
He noted that during the month-long operation, authorities arrested 415 individuals and rescued 625 victims aged between two months and 28 years.
