KUALA LUMPUR: A Royal Commission of Inquiry should be set up to investigate the allegations of the inhumane treatment of children living in the Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) welfare homes and their teachings, says the G25 Group.
The G25, a group of prominent retired civil servants, said the RCI could not only assist in the investigations but also promote accountability and reforms which would improve how such matters are handled in the future.
"We, the members of G25, wholeheartedly support the call from the Malaysian Bar Council for an RCI to be set up as soon as possible to investigate the alarming allegations of the inhumane treatment of children living in the Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) welfare homes and their teachings.
"An RCI will not only assist in the investigations but also promote accountability and reforms that will improve how such matters are handled in the future to avoid the delays we have seen in this case," it said in a statement.
On Sept 11, the police raided 20 charity houses believed to belong to GISB in Selangor and Negri Sembilan and arrested 171 individuals linked to various forms of exploitation among children.
Police revealed that a total of 402 individuals, 201 males and 201 females aged between one and 17 years old, were rescued in the operation.
Religious authorities, including the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, were also called in to investigate.
GISB has since then issued a statement denying allegations that they exploit children as workers and stated that they will not compromise with activities that violate the law, especially involving children.
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) then issued a statement to refute claims that it had failed to address issues surrounding GISB.
Its director-general Datin Hakimah Mohd Yusoff said the department had started taking action against GISB since Feb 2019.
She explained that besides holding 12 meetings, actions taken against GISB included workshops, special task forces and national programmes involving security agencies such as the National Security Council, Home Ministry and the police.
G25 had questioned why the police had not taken action sooner and removed the children from the welfare homes.
"We are shocked that it has been over five years since issues surrounding GISB have been known to the authorities without any move to shut them down while investigating.
"This raises serious questions about the systemic failures in our enforcement agencies that allowed for such abuses to persist and highlights a troubling delay in the execution and administration of justice in our country, especially with regard to the administration of religion.
"We, the G25, once again call on the government to look into the administration of Islam in our country at a deeper level.
"Delays in execution and action just because of religious sensitivities leave room for neglect at the expense of the innocent," it said.
It added that it is imperative that Malaysia not only seek immediate justice but also ensure long-term support and rehabilitation for the children.
"The leadership and management of GISB must be held responsible for failing to provide a safe environment for these children, alongside the regulatory bodies that neglected their duty to protect these vulnerable individuals.
"It is crucial that those responsible face justice to protect the rights of those affected. We must act decisively to prevent future incidents and restore public trust in the systems designed to protect our people.