KANGAR: The Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) enforcement division discovered 63 items related to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holding Sdn Bhd (GISB) after raiding two business premises linked to the company yesterday.
Among the items are books and reading materials allegedly linked to the founder of banned Al-Arqam teaching, the late Ashaari Mohammad.
In 1994, the government banned Al-Arqam for deviant teachings.
JAIPs director Najmuddin Abdul Karim said the 'Op Global' raid was jointly carried out with the police.
"Following the raid on two GISB-linked premises, we found 63 items related to the teachings. We wish to advise Muslims in Perlis to avoid the teachings that have been declared as deviant by the Perlis Fatwa Committee.
"We are also urging anyone with information on the teaching to come forward so that enforcement and action can be taken," he said when contacted.
Meanwhile, Perlis police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim confirmed the raid but declined to comment since the matter should be referred to Bukit Aman.
On Friday, it was reported that the GISB franchise outlets in Jalan Siakap 1, Kuala Perlis have ceased their operations.
It was understood that the outlets had closed down before the Perlis Fatwa Committee declared the organisation a deviant group earlier on Friday.
On Friday, Perlis became the first state to declare GISB as a deviant and unIslamic group.
Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was reported as saying that the fatwa was issued after the committee received compelling evidence on the "batiniah" (esoteric) elements in GISB's teachings are a continuation of the deviant al-Arqam teachings.