°ÅÀÖÊÓƵ

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's religious affairs authority on Thursday (Nov 14) accused a conglomerate under investigation for child abuse and money laundering of deploying "elements of slavery" in the way it operates its businesses.

Nooh Gadot, an official at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs, said this was among the reasons why the teachings and beliefs propagated by GISB have been declared deviant, as he urged Muslims to shun the group.

Police in September raided care homes run by Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB), rescuing more than 600 children, some of whom were found to have been abused.

They also arrested 415 people, including the chief executive of GISB, his wife, and senior figures of the company.

"GISB practises economic models that have an element of slavery where the needs of followers will be fully borne by the company and in return, they are required to serve voluntarily without any wages," Nooh said in a statement on Thursday.

Nooh said the group also propagated the belief that water used to wash the hair, beard or body parts of their leaders could bring blessings.

"Any person who adheres to, believes in, teaches, spreads, practises or becomes a follower of those teachings and beliefs must repent," said Nooh.

"This committee also suggests that government agencies at the federal and state levels assist in the process of rehabilitating (GISB followers) and allocate a suitable amount of funds for this purpose."

GISB could not be immediately reached for comment on the slavery allegation, and a lawyer for the group did not respond to an AFP request for comment.

POLICE RAIDS

GISB has long been controversial for its ties to the Al-Arqam sect, which has been banned in Malaysia since 1994 for its deviant teachings and cult-like activities.

In 2011, GISB set up an "Obedient Wives Club" that called on women to be "whores in bed" to prevent infidelity by their husbands.

Following the series of raids in September on care homes run by GISB in Selangor and neighbouring Negeri Sembilan state, Malaysia's police chief Razarudin Husain said that at least 13 children suffered sexual abuse after medical screenings.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also said in parliament in October that children were being severely punished for minor infractions.

The case has shocked the country and sparked concerns about the welfare of children in care facilities and the regulation of charitable organisations in Malaysia.

The firm's chief executive Nasiruddin Ali was charged on Oct 23 along with his wife Azura Yusof and 20 senior leaders with being members of an organised crime group.

Several other people have been charged with criminal intimidation and child abuse.

Police have also investigated GISB for money laundering, deviant teachings and extremist indoctrination following reports the rescued children were exposed to videos with militant themes.

GISB ran a network of supermarkets, restaurants and travel agencies catering to Muslim customers in Malaysia and more than a dozen other countries, but the raids have crippled their businesses.