Malaysia police to summon Islamic firm in child sex abuse probe

Police this week rescued 402 children and youths in raids carried out at 20 premises that they said were operated by Islamic conglomerate Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB).

GISB has said they did not run the homes and denied allegations of sexual abuses at the properties. A GISB spokesperson said on Friday the firm had yet to be summoned by police.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said 172 of those rescued have undergone physical and mental health screenings, with many showing old and new injuries as well as indications of emotional trauma and stunted growth.

Some of the children were disabled or sick, while 13 had been sodomized, Razarudin said.

Why only now?

The case has sparked outrage in Muslim-majority Malaysia, with some critics questioning why action had not been taken earlier after police said it had received complaints on GISB as far back as 2011.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday he instructed authorities to investigate without delay and take swift action against GISB should any misconduct be found, state news agency Bernama reported.

Of 171 people arrested during the raids, 159 have been detained pending investigation, while others were found to have been minors and released, Razarudin said.

Four men and one woman are being investigated in connection with the sodomy cases, he added.

For questioning

Razarudin said police will call up GISB’s board for questioning and did not discount the possibility of further arrests or raids on premises linked to the group.

The firm, which has been linked to a banned Islamic religious sect in Malaysia, is involved in businesses ranging from supermarkets to laundromats with operations in 20 countries, according to its website.

The group has acknowledged its links to the now-defunct Malaysia-based Al-Arqam religious sect, which was banned by the government in 1994, but now describes itself as an Islamic conglomerate based on Muslim practices.