The Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia (MKI Fatwa Committee) will issue legal opinions, but not a formal fatwa, on the matter concerning GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), according to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr. Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. He clarified that decisions on any fatwa related to GISBH will be made by each state, as religious matters fall under the jurisdiction of individual states in Malaysia.
Dr. Mohd Na’im further explained that the MKI Fatwa Committee had already concluded its discussions on the GISBH case, and the findings will be presented to the Conference of Rulers for review. He added that this presentation would take place during the upcoming Conference of Rulers' meeting scheduled for October 23 and 24. The committee will seek the consent of the rulers before any further action is taken.
The minister made these remarks during a press briefing after officiating the 41st National Hajj Muzakarah for the 1446H Hajj season. His comments came amid rising public interest in the GISBH issue, which recently became the subject of a high-profile police investigation.
Earlier, on September 11, Malaysian authorities conducted raids on 20 charity homes associated with GISBH in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. These operations, codenamed "Op Global," were launched in response to allegations of child exploitation and religious abuse within institutions linked to the company. The raids uncovered shocking cases of neglect and mistreatment, prompting swift legal action against those involved.
As a result of the operation, several individuals connected to GISBH, including members of the company’s top management, were detained by the police. Authorities also managed to rescue 572 victims from these homes, many of whom had been subjected to neglectful or abusive conditions. The investigation led to the arrest of more than 300 individuals across various levels of the organization.
The GISBH case has drawn significant attention due to the nature of the allegations, which involve the exploitation of vulnerable individuals under the guise of charitable and religious activities. Many of the victims were children, raising serious concerns about the organization's practices and how such actions could have gone unchecked for an extended period.
In light of these developments, the MKI Fatwa Committee’s legal opinions, once presented to the Conference of Rulers, will serve as a key component in determining the religious and legal ramifications of the case. However, as religious matters in Malaysia fall under the purview of state authorities, each state will ultimately decide how to proceed with the issuance of any fatwas or legal decisions concerning GISBH.
As the case continues to unfold, it is expected that both the public and government authorities will pay close attention to the proceedings of the Conference of Rulers, as their consent and subsequent actions may have far reaching implications for religious governance in Malaysia. The outcome of this case could also set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, particularly those involving allegations of religious abuse or exploitation in charitable organizations.
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