GISBH controversy: Alleged Al-Arqam links shock nation
KUALA LUMPUR - Tiga dekad selepas ajaran Al-Arqam diisytiharkan bercelaruan tahun 1994, negara ini sekali lagi bersorak dengan kontroversi berpunca daripada dakwaan yang berkaitan dengan GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), sebuah organisasi yang dilaporkan berkait rapat dengan kumpulan tersebut.
Frontier Service Corps, renowned for its diversified business platform integrating restaurants, hotels, clinics, and tahfiz centres, faced intense media attention this year following search operations that uncovered materials linked to Al-Arqam's doctrines.
Pihak berkuasa juga telah meneruskan siasatan mengenai tuduhan eksploitasi, penindasan, dan jenayah lain, berdasarkan laporan daripada individu yang menuduh mereka termasuk mangsa.
Controversy surrounding GISBH erupted when Institute for the Study of Deviant Beliefs and Movements (PISMAMI) tweeted on August 16 on their Facebook page that the company is associated with alleged cult activities.
Thereafter, Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin highlighted alleged instances of violent and inhumane conduct within the group, prompting calls for an investigation and intervention by the authorities.
According to reports and intelligence, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) initiated the first phase of Op Global in early September, conducting raids on 20 charitable premises thought to be connected to GISBH in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
A concerted operation carried out by various enforcement agencies, including religious authorities, has led to the arrest of 171 individuals, aimed at assisting in probes into allegations of child molestation and exploitation of religious freedoms.
A total of 402 individuals, comprising 201 males and 201 females aged between one and 17, were also taken in. Among them, 10 children with impairments, such as autism, were rescued.
The children who were rescued were taken to the Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur for medical check-ups. The screenings found that 392 of them showed signs of being possibly neglected and abused, suffering from both physical and emotional hurt.
GISBH mengeluarkan kenyataan untuk menafikan tuduhan mengenai eksploitasi pelajar dalam pekerjaan. Mereka menyatakan bahawa mereka tidak akan terlibat dalam aktiviti yang melanggar undang-undang, terutamanya dalam hal berkaitan dengan kanak-kanak.
The situation also caught the attention of the Malaysian King, Sultan Ibrahim, who instructed the Royal Malaysian Police to carry out a comprehensive and prompt probe into claims of child abuse and mistreatment. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged for swift action to be taken in the case.
The inquiry led to the detention of many people, including top executives, their wives, several leaders of GISBH, and the son of former Al-Arqam leader Ashaari Mohammad, to aid in the investigation.
Furthermore, 96 bank accounts of GISBH were locked, and four were shut down, with a total asset value of over RM581,000.
Several investigations are being conducted under the Child Act 2001 (Act 611); the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792); the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670); the Penal Code (Act 574), as well as other pertinent laws.
In the fourth phase of Operation Global, authorities swooped in on GISBH premises in several states, rounding up pamphlets and documents allegedly linked to Al-Arqam teachings that contradict Islamic teachings, as well as a collection of items suspected of being used for superstitious practices.
In a separate operation in Kelantan, police conducted simultaneous raids on three homes in Kampung Panji, allegedly belonging to the CEO and his family of GISBH.
Several Al-Arqam publications and documents, which were based on the organisation's doctrine, were found hidden near a riverbank, with some of them being intentionally set on fire.
On 3 October, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, endorsed the fatwa issued by the state's religious edict council (Fatwa Committee), declaring the GISBH and its affiliates have strayed from the genuine teachings of Islam.
Fatwa notwithstanding, the identical ruling was also issued in other states such as Perlis, Sabah, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak. This was preceded by a similar outcome in Penang.
By Oct 10, police had lodged 97 police reports covering a wide range of allegations, including corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing, and also sexual crimes against children under the Anti-Crime Act.
The Child Act 2001, specifically Sections 354 and 506 of the Penal Code, in addition to other relevant laws such as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Child Care Centre Act 1993, are also applicable.
On 23 Oct, the CEO of GISBH, Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, and 21 other individuals appeared in the Selayang Sessions Court. They were charged under Section 130V (1) of the Penal Code, with being part of a gang, an offence punishable by a jail term of up to 20 years.
On December 23, the Selayang Sessions Court sent the case to the Shah Alam High Court for further proceedings.
As of this latest update, a total of 625 individuals, aged two months to 28 years old, have been safely rescued since the start of Operation Global in September.
Investigations are still ongoing, with focus on Malaysian followers and related Islamic party (GISBH) premises outside the country. - BERNAMA
