KUALA LUMPUR - The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah expressed his sadness at the news related to police's investigation into criminal activities by GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) and its network.
In this regard, His Highness decreed that all charitable homes and Islamic schools under the control of GISBH and its network that are not registered or suspected to be involved in criminal activities including Sharia crimes to be closed immediately and not allowed to operate in Selangor as a preventive measure to prevent the children involved from continuing to be abused.
"The Selangor State Fatwa Committee is also urged to study the issues related to the GISBH practices and whether they deviate or contradict the true teachings of Islam," he said in a statement today.
Sultan Sharafuddin said according to reports received, most of the charity homes under GISBH in the investigation, have been operating for a long time in several states in the country, especially the state of Selangor, without registration as required by the law.
The Sultan of Selangor said he was upset and disappointed because the matter had continued for a long time and no effective action had been taken to deal with the matter.
His Highness said that the delay in dealing with the matter shows a weakness in the monitoring and enforcement aspects of the law by religious agencies against Islamic religious schools and charity homes linked to GISBH and its network, thus causing the matter to become so serious and uncontrollable.
"Being aware that this issue is a serious matter and involves Muslims in this country, I called the chairman of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), director of the Department
Selangor Islamic Religion (JAIS), Selangor police chief and some members of MAIS in a meeting to get complete information and identify the immediate steps that need to be taken to deal with this matter," said the Sultan.
Sultan Sharafuddin said following the meeting, he had ordered all Selangor Islamic religious agencies namely MAIS, JAIS, Selangor Mufti Department and Selangor Syariah Prosecution Department together with the Royal Malaysian Police (Selangor and Bukit Aman Contingents) to cooperate and take serious steps to investigate in depth.
The action is to ensure that all parties directly and indirectly involved in the criminal offences are brought to court and prosecuted.
The Sultan of Selangor also warned all parties, especially religious authorities, to take seriously the issues related to the behavior of the GISBH group, especially when involving children and the heretical teachings suspected to be practiced by them.
The Sultan of Selangor said all serious criminal acts linked to GISBH, based on the results of the police investigation, have defamed the good name and sanctity of Islam.
"Various pieces of evidence have been found that lead to suspected criminal offences such as abuse of students, exploitation of children, forced labour, sexual crimes including sodomy committed in several charity houses, including Islamic religious schools under surveillance GISBH," he said.
The Sultan ordered immediate and decisive action without any compromise should be taken under the law against any party that commits crimes against children and practices that are against the faith in order to preserve the sanctity of Islam.
"I don't want us to be just likened to an 'empty can' which means we are only good at talking but there is no result.
"We must adhere to the principle of 'walk the talk or putting your words into action'. In addition, I also called for all religious enforcement agencies and the police to carry out investigations transparently and always maintain the integrity and trust that has been entrusted to them," he said.
His Highness said offences relating to practices that are contrary to Islamic religious beliefs have also been detected and suspected of being committed at several premises of the GISBH group.
Therefore, Sultan Sharafuddin advises parents and guardians who send their children to religious schools or charity care centres to check the background of a school or charity care centre so that they do not get stuck with schools and care centres that are not registered and implementing questionable programmes and learning.
"This is to ensure that the children are educated and cared for appropriately and to avoid neglect and exploitation of the children.
"Remember that the children are a trust from Allah SWT and it is the parents and guardians who are responsible for shaping a good future for the children," he said.
Last week, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department through Op Global raided 20 charity homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan believed to be linked to GISBH and rescued 402 children and teenagers comprisng 201 boys and 201 girls aged one to 17 years. - BERNAMA