KOTA BHARU - The Kelantan government is monitoring the movements of Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holding (GISBH) in the state apart from being prepared to cooperate with the Royal Malaysian Police if necessary.
State Islamic Development, Dakwah, Information and Regional Relations Committee chairman Mohd Asri Mat Daud said so far his party has not received any complaints of crime and misconduct from the community related to the movement.
He said his party has also identified some information related to GISBH which is believed to have a school in Gong Kulim, Pasir Puteh, two charity houses in Kota Bharu and Pasir Puteh, four restaurant premises, two in Kota Bharu and one each in Gua Musang and Tumpat, two hotels in Kota Bharu and four other premises.
"GISBH has a foothold in Kelantan, but do not have many entities such as schools, charity homes, restaurants, hotels and so on. Therefore, until now we only monitor and choose to be in standby mode because we cannot conduct raids without any complaints.
"We also do not rule out the possibility of working with the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAHEAIK), the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) and also the Local Authorities (PBT) in dealing with this movement," he told reporters after the Exco meeting at Kota Darulnaim Complex, here today.
Yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim ordered police to conduct an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the issue of crime and child abuse linked to GISBH charity homes.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the results of health screening tests on 392 children who were rescued from charity homes linked to GISBH through Global Ops found that there were elements of physical and emotional abuse against the victims.
In addition, there is also an element of child labour and exploitation of those under the age of 18 who were forced to selling for the organisation.
In a raid on Sept 11, the police rescued 402 children and teenagers, consisting of 201 boys and 201 girls aged between one and 17 years old, who were suspected of being victims of exploitation in 18 charity homes in Selangor and two in Negeri Sembilan through Op Global.
The results of the raid also revealed that there were offences of neglect and mistreatment of children and teenagers who were also residents of the charity homes involved and as a result 171 individuals were arrested, including 105 women. - BERNAMA