Ex-leader’s daughter reveals 'living hell' growing up in Al-Arqam cult, separated from family as a child
She said she and the other children within the cult were constantly separated from their mothers and had to live with an "ustaz" whom they barely knew.
SHAH ALAM – From a young age, Sabrina Bolivar sensed that something was deeply unsettling about the way of life in the Al-Arqam movement.
The daughter of a former top leader in Al-Arqam which is now known as GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) described her life in the cult then as a "living hell."
This, she said was mainly because she and the other children within the cult were constantly separated from their mothers and family members and had to live with an "ustaz" (male religious teacher) whom they barely knew.
"It was like living in hell because we were constantly separated from our mother and family members.
"I remember when I was little, I would always cry for my mom and grandmother because we were kept apart.
"I even had to live with strangers, they were men referred to as "ustaz". It was not like a charity home, it was more like 'rumah-rumah' (houses) where I was living with families that weren’t even related to me.
"It was very uncomfortable and I was very confused having to live with strangers. I did not know these people," she said, opening up about her traumatic childhood and the confusion she felt growing up in the cult.
She shared this during a live Fireside Chat with Sinar Daily, recently.
She also shared that she only met her real brother and sister when she was four years old.
Sabrina, 35, who comes from a French-Malaysian background, shared how her visits to her grandmother’s house would give her a glimpse of what a "normal" childhood looked like.
"Our father would send us to our grandmother's house during the short breaks.
"I know it (life in the cult) wasn't normal because whenever I went to my grandmother's house, which was upon permission (from the cult), I experienced a normal childhood and family exposure.
"But when I came back to Al-Arqam, everything was so confusing, it felt so wrong," she said.
She said when members of the group wanted to reunite with their families, permission must be granted and as soon they were were back, the isolation from loved ones would resume and members were once again surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
She added that the breaks to visit family members outside were also short-lived.
Sabrina who resides in Paris, France said it was her grandmother, Christine Rohani Longuet, a French-Venezuelan woman who had rescued her, her mother and siblings from the cult's clutches.
She also recalled the heavy brainwashing by male members of the group, including her late father.
When asked if her other siblings from her father's other marriages managed to escape the group, Sabrina said many had left and were able to live a normal life like her now.
However, she said some who were still in school, found it difficult to break away entirely due to their young age and lack of support system.
Sabrina also shared shocking details about the cult’s bizarre and heretical practices, which involved an unhealthy obsession with their leader, Ashaari Muhammad or better known as Abuya in the cult.
This, she said was to the extent they would collect water used to rinse his feet, his body hair and even use his name to replace the name of Allah SWT when in pain and circumstances alike.
"For me, I witnessed firsthand that their obsession really ran deep in every member to the extent that, I’m sorry that I have to mention this, when they were in pain, they wouldn’t call Allah’s name but Abuya’s.
"I thought it only happened during my childhood. I didn’t realise that they are still doing it now," she said referring to recent reports revealing the cult's activities.
She said her mother, despite being a member was never fully convinced of their teachings, especially the elevation of their leader to a near-divine status.
Throughout the interview, Sabrina also touched on various forms of abuse and neglect prevalent within the group, from emotional manipulation to physical harm.
Sabrina kept these painful memories to herself for a long time.
It was not until she shared her experiences on TikTok that her story gained public attention.
Her series of viral videos sparked conversations about the cult and more victims have since come forward with similar stories.
While Sabrina’s story is heartbreaking, it has also given hope to others who lived through similar horrors.
She was now part of a growing movement to expose the truth behind GISB and to end the abuse that still affected many within the group.
"They accused me of lying and for creating stories. I posted about the people who witnessed everything that I talked about, including my trauma and experience from childhood.
"I am not alone, I have thousands of people behind me who lived during that time.
"I just want to end this cycle, this abuse that was happening to the little children and to the mothers and the heavy brainwashing by the male members.
"Please trust the victims. Let the police do their work and support efforts to stop child abuse and neglect. Malaysians, we can be better than this," she said.
On Sept 11, police rescued 402 children from 20 care homes linked to GISBH in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, responding to allegations of abuse, exploitation, and sexual assault.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 171 suspects, including a teacher and dorm caretakers.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the police have re-arrested 34 individuals allegedly linked to GISBH who completed their remand period on Tuesday under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) to continue with the investigation.
He said police also found that GISBH’s business methods are facilitated through their version of Aurad Muhammadiah teachings, adding that the group was willing to distort the true teachings of Islam due to their fanaticism towards their leaders.
