KUALA LUMPUR – The Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) is believed to have around 10,000 members, according to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
The nation’s police chief said this estimate includes children, with hundreds already rescued in the ongoing crackdown on the organisation, which is linked to the outlawed deviant sect Al-Arqam.
“However, the number (of GISBH members) has to be verified through police investigations,” Razarudin told a press conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here, today, without elaborating on whether the said amount of members are based locally or abroad.
He added that 59 children under the age of 5 were rescued during Phase 4 of Op Global, an interagency operation against GISBH, while another 75 victims consisted of minors between the ages of 6 to 12.
A total of 40 victims are aged between 13 to 17 while the remaining 13 individuals are above 18 years old.
The 187 victims, consisting of 100 boys and 87 girls, are currently undergoing screenings by the Health Ministry and the Social Welfare Department, following which they will be placed under the care of the latter.
Razarudin said that some of the rescued children were previously depicted in viral videos as being allegedly abused while under the care of welfare homes said to be managed by GISBH.
One of four siblings aged between 6 and 11, who have been separated from their father since 2001 before they were rescued in Tapah, Perak, was recorded while they were being caned by an individual understood to be a GISBH member.
Another rescued child who was seen being stepped on while the individual recording the video berated him for crying has been placed in the paediatric ward for further examination.
Both cases are currently being investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001 on child abuse, neglect or abandonment and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities.
A total of 156 individuals consisting of 80 men and 76 women were arrested during the operation, all of whom have been remanded until September 28.
Seized items, statements provided to police indicate GISBH still practising banned teachings
The operation phase, which began on September 21, saw police successfully raiding 59 premises across the nation while the other targeted 221 locations were found vacant after certain GISBH members had supposedly run away.
During the operation, police and representatives from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) seized 455 units of books, brochures and logos, 90 cellphones, 16 computers, 26 animals, 13 vehicles and RM904 worth of cash.
The seized items were referred to Jakim, following which it was found that some of the items contradict Islamic principles and are related to Aurad Muhammadiyah teachings, which were banned in 1996, as well as Al-Arqam, which was declared a deviant group in 1994.
“Based on the information and statements we have obtained, police believe that GISBH is still practising Aurad Muhammadiyah teachings linked with the Al-Arqam group founded by Ashaari Muhammad.
“(However), I don’t want to jump the gun on this topic,” Razarudin said, noting that Jakim will deliver its final say on the matter.
In banning the Al-Arqam movement, the government previously said its members were practising a deviant form of Islam contrary to the “Sunnah wal Jamaah” school of Islam adhered to by Malaysia. – September 23, 2024
