KUALA LUMPUR: GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) has warned that it will take legal action against any party who defames the company.
This followed a police raid on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan early yesterday over suspicions of child exploitation and sexual abuse.
In a statement dated yesterday, GISBH denied the allegations and said the raided homes were not under its management.
It also said a report would be lodged against those who slander the company so that an investigation could be carried out and the parties involved be brought to justice.
"We will not hesitate to take legal action against any party who intentionally or maliciously defames GISBH.
"Lately, we have seen various accusations hurled against GISBH. The latest is about the welfare homes run by GISBH, where victims were taught about sodomy and forced to sodomise each other," said the company.
It said these were serious allegations that were created to defame, cause prejudice and maliciously paint a negative perception of GISBH.
"We believe there are certain parties with hidden and planned agendas to bring down the image and business of our company.
"We deny all these accusations because the said charity houses are clearly not under the management of GISBH," it said, adding that it was not their policy to plan and implement things that are against syariah and national laws.
It said on the other hand, GISBH had always strived to ensure that "Islam as a way of life" was practised in all aspects of life.
"Finally, we pray to Allah SWT that the parties involved will immediately repent and stop slandering us. May this country continue to be protected from division and conflict between people as a result of these issues," it said.
The statement followed news that police had raided 20 welfare homes early today.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that the homes raided were linked to the Global Ikhwan Group.
It was reported that police investigations into some of the welfare homes had found claims of sodomy and child abuse.
Razarudin was also reported as saying that based on the intelligence gathered, some victims had been sodomised by their caregivers.
Police also received information that some of the children were taught how to sodomise and forced to perform it on other children in the homes.