BERNAMA – On September 11, the Malaysian police launched ‘Op Global’, a nationwide operation targeting 20 charity homes linked to GlSB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), suspected of child exploitation and promoting alleged indoctrination.
Following the raid, a total of 402 residents of the charity homes were rescued and 171 individuals between the ages of 17 and 64 were arrested.
Below is the chronology of the case as of Sunday.
August 16
The Malaysian Centre for the Study of Deviant Teachings (PUKAS) revealed on its official Facebook page allegations of deviant teachings within GISBH.
September 6
Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin in a Facebook post called for investigations into violence and cruelty reportedly linked to GISBH, calling for authorities’ intervention.
September 11
Police raided 20 charity houses believed to belong to GISBH in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan and arrested 171 individuals to help investigate cases of child and religious exploitation.
Police revealed that a total of 402 individuals, 201 males and 201 females aged between one and 17 years old, were rescued in the operation. Of that, a total of 10 children are persons with disabilities and autism and were handed over to the Social Welfare Department (JKM) after screening.
The remaining 392 underwent a health screening test at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) Kuala Lumpur.
GISBH issued a statement denying allegations that they exploit children as workers and said that they will not compromise with activities that violate the law, especially involving children.
September 12
The process of documenting rescued children continues at Pulapol Kuala Lumpur.
A 19-year-old teenage girl was charged in the Seremban Sessions Court, Negeri Sembilan with four charges of physical abuse against four children girls between the ages of five and six at a childcare centre in Seremban linked to GISBH. The accused pleaded not guilty.
September 13
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain held a second press conference regarding the case and revealed that a total of 41 police reports related to GISBH had been received from 2011 until September this year.
A total of 159 individuals from the 171 detained were remanded while the rest were minors and no need to be investigated.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed the matter of faith, misuse of power and religion and abuse of children are serious matters that need to be dealt with immediately.
September 14
The IGP, in his third press conference, said that the raid on 20 charity homes through Op Global was the result of six months of police intelligence and investigation.
The investigation into the company has, however, been carried out since 2011 and the police met with PUKAS representatives six months ago.
September 15
Police confirmed that 483 individuals had recorded conversations consisting of complainants, witnesses, victims and suspects.
A total of 384 children and teenagers completed a health screening and the results of the screening found that there were elements of neglect and abuse.
September 17
The IGP confirmed that 96 accounts belonging to GISBH have been frozen, as well as four accounts closed involving assets worth more than RM581,000.
All 392 victims rescued through Op Global have completed health screening, physical and emotional criminal elements have been detected. Three investigation papers regarding Op Global were submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers
September 18
A businessman and GISBH member, Mohamad Riza Makar, pleaded not guilty at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court, near here to the charge of making criminal threats against a woman on September 9.
September 19
Nineteen individuals including top management, wives and several GISBH leaders were remanded for seven days to assist investigations.
Three teaching assistants from a madrasah in Kuala Pilah, who are suspected of having links with GISBH, were charged in the Seremban Sessions Court, Negeri Sembilan with 14 charges of sexually abusing five children in 2022 and 2023. They pleaded not guilty.
September 20
Seven more individuals suspected of having links with GISBH were arrested to assist in the investigation of human trafficking cases. They include the son of former Al-Arqam leader Ashaari Mohammad, a member of GISBH’s ‘Remaja Pembela Ummah’ (RPU) group.
Another teaching assistant at a madrasah in Kuala Pilah was charged in the Sessions Court in Seremban and pleaded not guilty to six charges of sexual assault against four boys, last year.
The Special Meeting of the Perlis State Fatwa Committee decided that the beliefs and teachings in GISBH contain deviant elements, in particular, ‘batiniah’.
September 21
Op Global enters its fourth phase across Peninsular Malaysia, with raids on 82 premises. A total of 186 victims, including 102 men and 84 women, were rescued, while 155 suspects, comprising 78 men and 77 women, were nabbed.
Razarudin said that during the operation, conducted with the involvement of JAKIM, several documents containing elements believed to be contrary to Islamic teachings were seized.
In Penang, four premises, including two childcare centres linked to GISBH, were raided, with six religious books suspected to be linked to the banned Al-Arqam movement, outlawed by the National Fatwa Council in 1994, confiscated.
In Melaka, 285 items related to Al-Arqam, including photos of its founder, Ashaari Muhammad (also known as Abuya), were found during raids on 19 GISBH-linked premises.
In Kelantan, three houses, believed to house the family of GISBH’s CEO, were raided in Kampung Panji, and various GISBH-related books and documents were found buried by the riverbank or partially burnt.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said that the doctrinal teachings of GISBH would be discussed by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs’ Muzakarah Committee during its meeting from Tuesday to Thursday.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is closely monitoring social media content related to GISBH, including viral videos and parodies circulating among the public.
