A bakery, three restaurants, a boutique, a clinic and a grocery mart were among the 20 businesses located around three blocks of shophouses in a quiet township in Rawang some 30 minutes by car north of Kuala Lumpur. They have names such as Poliklinik Ikhwan, Ikhwan Mart, Butik Ikhwan and Ikhwan Cafe. An outdoor station called Ikhwan Equestrian features horse rides.
Welcome to ground zero of a controversial, secretive group now known as Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings, or GISB. Ikhwan is an Arabic word meaning brothers or brotherhood.
Promoting itself as an international business group, GISB on its website acknowledges the late Ashaari Muhammad as its founder. He is the preacher who founded the Al-Arqam cult, which was banned in 1994 for spreading “deviationist Islamic teachings”.
The group is once again facing intense scrutiny in Malaysia, this time related to shocking allegations of child abuse and sodomy, after the police earlier in September raided 20 children welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan states said to be related to GISB and rescued nearly 400 boys and girls.
On Sept 21, a total of 155 suspects linked to GISB, including 77 women, were detained in Ops Global raids in all Peninsular Malaysia states, said Malaysian police inspector-general Razarudin Husain. He said 82 premises were raided, including homes and business premises with links to the group.
“All those detained are being investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Act and Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act,” he said in a statement.
“A total of 186 victims consisting of 102 men and 84 women, including a boy who was being punished by a man believed to be a GISB member, were also rescued in the operation,” he said.
Denne historien er fra September 22, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra September 22, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
