Global Ikhwan child abuse scandal

Operation Global (Op Global; Malay: Operasi Global) was an operation conducted on 11 September 2024 by the Royal Malaysia Police. The operation investigated cases of child neglect and child sexual abuse in children's homes associated with Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holding (GISB Holding Sdn Bhd).

Background

GISBH is a conglomerate reportedly holding assets valued at RM325 million, with business operations spanning 20 countries. The company was founded in 1997 by the remaining followers of Ashaari Muhammad, who also established al-Arqam in 1968. It was formed three years after the Malaysian government banned al-Arqam in 1994 over concerns regarding its teachings. Initially operating as Rufaqa' Corporation, the company changed its name to Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd following the ban on Rufaqa', and adopted its current name, GISBH, in 2010. According to the company's chief executive officer, the group was cleared of any legal wrongdoing by the Malaysian police's Special Branch.

GISBH claims to employ 3,658 youth and 1,698 adults across its various businesses. However, it has faced allegations of using child labour by having minors sell goods through its business network, a claim the company denies.

Timeline

Raid on children's homes

On 11 September 2024, a police report triggered a Royal Malaysia Police raid on 20 children's homes associated with GISBH around Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. The initial toll of children rescued was 402, in which was 201 boys and 201 girls aged between one and 17 years old, in addition 171 suspects including teachers and wardens were remanded. The children were believed to be offspring of GISBH members currently outstation at GISBH foreign premises. Some of the 402 children were sodomised and taught to sexually assault their peers according to the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Health screenings of the 384 rescued children reveal that they endured physical injuries and sexual abuse and 13 of them have been sodomised. All of the rescued children were bought to PULAPOL for documentation, out of 402 children, 10 were disabled and autistic and were handed over to Department of Social Welfare.

According to the police, since 2011 until September 2024, they had received 41 police reports against GISBH, they also addressed allegations that the police reacted late on the information stating that the police were compiling information. The IGP also said 159 individuals out of the 171 suspects detained during the operation were remanded while the rest are minors and no need to be investigated. On 17 September 2024, the police later froze 96 bank accounts held by GISBH with a total of RM581,552 under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).

GISBH's response

First press release

The day after the police raid, GISBH ran a damage control campaign and uploaded a press release in Facebook strongly denying cases of sodomy in the children's homes. The company's chief coordination officer, Adib Attamimi also uploaded a video in Facebook stating 'It is astonishing that we would neglect them. We must consider how strong they are in facing these challenges.'

Second press release

GISBH later on changed their stance and made a press release with its chief executive officer, Nasiruddin Mohd Ali acknowledging there were sodomy cases in between the children while denying accusations of human trafficking.

'Yes, there were one or two cases of sodomy among the children but why generalise all the other innocent children and accuse us of human trafficking?'
'I did not speak up earlier for fear of aggravating the situation. Our lawyers will start the legal process tomorrow.'

Arrests

Border arrest

On 18 September 2024, two motorhomes with GISBH logos displayed on it were seen at Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS Complex heading towards Thailand. According to the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), the vehicles were there to renew their expiring International Circulation Permits. Upon being alerted by JIM about the vehicles' exit from the ICQS complex, Kedah Criminal Investigation Department stopped the vehicles and inspected it before seizing it and detaining the five drivers and passengers, among the detained were believed to be the son of a GISBH leader.

Arrest of GISBH leadership and members

On 19 September 2024, the firm's chief executive officer (CEO), his wife and two children were among the 19 GISBH executives that were remanded, this comes after his press release acknowledging cases of sodomy in the children's homes. On 20 September 2024, seven members of GISBH's Remaja Pembela Ummah was arrested to assist with an investigation into human trafficking. Those arrested include the sons of Ashaari Muhammad and GISBH's chief executive officer.

Re-arrest of GISBH members under SOSMA

On 25 September 2024, 34 members of GISBH were re-arrested after their remand period ended under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) while another 127 members were released on bail after their remand period ended.

Classification of GISBH as a cult

On 20 September 2024, Perlis became the first state in Malaysia to classify GISBH as a deviant group after Perlis State Fatwa Committee issued a fatwa stating that the beliefs and teachings in GISBH contains characteristics of deviant teachings. The State Fatwa Committee also added that GISB 'is a continuation of Al-Arqam teachings, which were banned nationwide' and 'such beliefs are deviant and have strayed from Islam.'

On 21 September 2024, the Sultan of Selangor ordered the Selangor Islamic Religion Department to cooperate with the police in relation to the investigation of the child abuse scandal. He also ordered the Selangor State Fatwa Committee to issue a ruling related to GISBH.

GISBH's tax evasion case

On 25 September 2024, a joint investigation between the Inland Revenue Board and police revealed GISBH never paid taxes on their business for years. The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living later issued compounds amounting to RM 4.4m to 12 Global Ikhwan-linked companies after Companies Commission of Malaysia found they failed to submit their annual and financial statements.

Mass raid and crackdown on GISBH-owned premises

On 21 September 2024, the local governments in Malaysia and federal government agencies joined by the Royal Malaysia Police, launched a mass raid & crackdown on GISBH-owned premises in Peninsular Malaysia. Kelantan Police and Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department jointly raided Nasiruddin Mohd Ali's residence in Kampung Panji, Kota Bharu. 30 people were found there including his second wife and over 20 children. The police also uncovered documents and books alledgedly related to Al-Arqam that was buried by a riverbank while other books were burned after news of the CEO's arrest. The IGP also announced that raids on GISBH since 18 September 2024 has resulted in 200 arrests made, 37 investigation papers initiated to date.

In Bandar Country Homes, Rawang, the headquarters of GISBH, the Selayang Municipal Council and Federal Reserve Unit raided GISBH-owned business premises & confiscated all assets belonged to GISBH. The police seized 455 pamphlets and related logos which were handed over to JAKIM, strands of beard were also among the seized items.

Four raids targeting children's homes and business were also done in Mainland Penang carried out by Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department and the police and uncovered six books related to Al-Arqam including the ones outlawed by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 2011. Meanwhile in Malacca, 19 children were rescued after the Melaka Islamic Religious Department, the police and more raided GISBH's premises in Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin. 11 out of the 24 individuals detained is suspected of following the teachings of Al-Arqam. A total of 155 people in which was 78 men and 77 women were nabbed by the police in phase four of Operation Global.

In Tapah, Perak, four siblings were rescued from a GISBH premise and were subjected to physical abuse by GISBH members, the siblings have been separated from their father since 2021. Medical examinations revealed one of the children showed signs of abuse. One of the rescued children was also found to be the child caned by a rattan in a viral video.

Response

Federal government

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged the authorities and the Islamic religious department of Department of Islamic Religion Selangor (JAIS), Federal Territories Department of Islamic Religion (JAWI) and the country national Islamic religious department (JAKIM) to take appropriate action on the issue.

State governments

Selangor

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council's chairman issued a statement ordering religious enforcement officers to investigate all charity homes and schools linked to GISBH to ensure no deviant teachings are propagated there.

Other states

The state government of Sabah through its Islamic Affairs Coordination Committee (JaPHEIS) as well as Sarawak police closely monitoring the activities of the group throughout their respective state following the scandal.

Court proceedings

On 12 September 2024, Puteri Nurin Amalina, a nineteen-year-old, was charged in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan with four charges of physical abuse against four girls between the ages of five and six at a GISBH related childcare centre in Rasah. On 18 September 2024, Mohamad Riza Makar, who is also a GISBH member was charged for criminal intimidation after allegedly threatening a woman to withdraw a police report against him at a carpark in Putrajaya. On 19 September 2024, three GISB madrasah teaching assistants were faced with 14 counts of sexual assault charges against five children in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. And on 20 September 2024, another teaching assistant was faced with six charges of sexual assault on four boys aged between nine and 11 in Kuala Pilah.

Related cases

On 23 September 2024, Perlis Mufti, Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin who actively talked about GISBH and its wrongdoings even before the scandal was threatened via WhatsApp by an unknown number. The phone number sent a message claiming that GISBH’s business was unrivalled in the country, and when the mufti ignored the messages the phone number sent provocations and threats by referring to him as 'kafir harbi' which refers to a non-Muslim with whom war can be waged. A police report was later lodged by the mufti due to the incident.

See also

• Al-Arqam