KUALA LUMPUR: Four daughters of Al-Arqam founder Ashaari Muhammad were among the 19 people arrested when Bukit Aman took action against Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd's (GISB) top management earlier today.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the four women were aged between 29 and 38.
"They were among the 19 that were caught when we conducted four raids at a complex along Jalan Imbi here about 5.40am on Thursday," he said today.
It is learnt that one of the four women is the wife of GISB's chief executive officer, who was also arrested.
Al-Arqam, founded by Ashaari, was a religious sect banned by the government in 1994 due to religious deviations.
At its height, the group reportedly attracted more than 60,000 followers, drawing support and sympathy from low-income and middle-class Malays, as well as college and university students.
According to Amnesty International, Ashaari was arrested in Thailand on Sept 2, 1994, under the Internal Security Act before being handed over to Malaysian authorities.
He was placed under 10 years of house arrest in Rawang and Labuan.
Ashaari died in 2010 from a lung infection.
GISB was founded in 2010 from the remnants of the Al-Arqam group.