On September 11, Malaysia was shaken by reports of sexual and physical abuse of children at welfare homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH). This followed mass police raids in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, resulting in the arrest of 171 individuals, including caretakers and religious teachers. Currently, GISBH is at the center of a multi-agency investigation into various criminal activities, including child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and the promotion of Islamic deviancy.
The investigation was sparked by alarming allegations that led to the rescue of 402 children from these homes, many of whom exhibited signs of neglect and abuse. The Malaysian Inspector-General of Police, Razarudin Husain, confirmed that the rescued minors, aged between one and 17 years, were primarily children of GISB employees. Reports indicate that these children were subjected to severe mistreatment, including being used for fundraising efforts under exploitative conditions.
In response to the allegations, GISBH has denied any wrongdoing, labeling the claims as ‘malicious defamation’. The company asserts that it will pursue legal action against those who spread false information about its operations. Additionally, GISBH has stated that it is willing to cooperate with authorities to resolve the situation.
A video has surfaced online showing children being physically abused by teachers at Sekolah Rendah Islam Integrasi Miftahul Hikmah (Miftahul Hikmah Integrated Islamic Primary School). Surprisingly, Sekolah Rendah Islam Integrasi Miftahul Hikmah is registered with JAIS (Selangor Islamic Religious Department); they were registered in January 2015. The footage offers a disturbing look into the abuse occurring in GISBH schools. The children, appearing to be around 7-10 years old, were caned for unspecified offenses. In the video, they can be seen lining up for the punishment, with one child in particular being caned so severely that he repeatedly jumped in pain. At one point, he is shown curled up on the ground, clearly suffering. Throughout the ordeal, the child repeatedly cried out ‘Sakitnya…sakit…sakit (Pain…pain…pain)’.
In Malaysian primary and secondary schools, caning is a legal form of discipline, officially allowed only for boys, though it is sometimes used on girls as well. A 2019 YouGov survey found that 81% of Malaysian parents support corporal punishment, and 85% had experienced it themselves as children. For context, I attended a Chinese vernacular school, where caning was a common practice. You can get caned for anything from being late to class to being unable to answer questions correctly. Many of my peers were caned at least once. However, I’ve never personally witnessed or experienced anyone being caned to the point of curling up on the ground in pain.
It is my hope that the authorities will continue to investigate these disturbing allegations thoroughly and hold those responsible for such heinous acts accountable. The abuse of children, in any form, is utterly unacceptable, and those who exploit and harm vulnerable minors must face the full weight of the law. No child should ever endure such pain or mistreatment, especially in an environment meant to provide care and protection. I urge the relevant agencies to ensure the safety of the rescued children and to work towards preventing such atrocities from happening again. Only through decisive action can we safeguard the future of our youth.
Aaron Colt is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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