KUALA LUMPUR – The wellbeing of 560 children previously under the care of GISB Holdings is being given serious attention, with RM1.2 million allocated for rehabilitation and character development programmes, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced today.
He said the initiative involves collaboration across various ministries and agencies as part of a broader government strategy to tackle critical social challenges, endorsed during the first 2025 meeting of the National Social Council.
The programmes would focus on character building, parental advocacy, and comprehensive spiritual rehabilitation for the children.
“This is not just about immediate welfare, but about rebuilding their sense of identity and guiding them back to the right path,” Zahid said in a statement.
“We are taking a holistic approach to ensure these children receive the support they need to thrive.”
The meeting also resulted in two major decisions: the formation of a Special Committee on Islamic Preschool Education to streamline registration, curriculum, and educator welfare at institutions such as Pasti, and the establishment of a special task force to address social risks faced by school dropouts.
On the topic of rakyat welfare, Zahid further highlighted the urgent need for a long-term care system for Malaysia’s ageing population, which is projected to exceed 15% aged 60 and above by 2030.
He called on all levels of government and society to adopt a comprehensive and united approach to strengthening social stability.
Meanwhile, in a related matter, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) has denied viral claims that its rehabilitation programme for former GISB Holdings members focuses solely on tajwid (Qur’anic pronunciation).
MAIS secretary Ahmad Shahir Makhtar clarified that the Insan Rabbani programme, which began in February and runs until August 2025, is a comprehensive effort to restore correct Islamic beliefs in line with a 2024 fatwa declaring GISB’s teachings deviant.
“The claim circulating on social media that the rehabilitation programme only focuses on tajwid is inaccurate and misleading,” he said in a statement today.
He explained that the programme, conducted every Sunday at four locations in Selangor, consists of 24 sessions facilitated by 51 certified teachers. It covers not only Qur’anic recitation and comprehension, but also foundational faith (akidah), spiritual purification (tasawuf), and Islamic jurisprudence (fikah) based on the Shafi’i mazhab.
“The akidah module addresses proper understanding of Allah’s attributes, the role of the prophets, and related concepts. The tasawuf component aims to cleanse the heart and nurture good character, while the fikah module covers practical aspects of worship,” he said.
For children of former GISB members, MAIS uses the Pendidikan Insani (Holistic Education) Module, designed by JAIS to nurture their personality, faith, and moral development in line with the teachings of Islam.
To date, 2,474 former GISB members, including 1,410 children, are participating in the programme. – May 9, 2025
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