LENGGONG: Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad will brief the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, on updates regarding Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) and their activities in the state.
Saarani said he is waiting for the full reports from the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk), which will be presented to the Sultan of Perak soon.
"I can't deny GISB's existence in the state. I have requested JAIPk director Harith Fadzilah Abdul Halim to gather all relevant information (on GISB operation in Perak)
"Coincidentally, the Sultan of Perak is the Chairman of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs of Malaysia (MKI).
"So, in Perak, we are gathering information, and what I can say for now is yes, GISB exists in Perak," he told reporters after flagging off Malaysia's biggest dual-purpose motorcycle gathering, Rimba Raid at Kampung Beng today.
Present were Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah who is also Lenggong member of Parliament, and state Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman, Loh Sze Yee.
He added that reports are currently being compiled by JAIPk, the police, the Perak Welfare Department as well as other agencies.
Asked whether the GISB issue is critical or under control in Perak, Saarani, who is also the state Islamic Religious committee chairman, said he needs to wait for the full report.
When asked whether Perak would declare the beliefs and teachings of GISB has deviant and unIslamic, Saarani said he would wait for the National Fatwa Committee's (NFC) decision.
"We need to wait for any decisions made by the NFC in general, and we will follow suit," he said.
Saarani added that as of yesterday, 55 children under the age of 12 have been rescued and are currently placed in a care center under the Perak Welfare Department.
"Authorities have rescued them from all districts in the state," he said.
GISB has been at the centre of police investigations after raids on Sept 11 on 20 welfare homes allegedly operated by them led to 402 children being rescued.
Subsequent screenings of the children revealed many of them suffered physical and emotional injuries.
During investigations, police also revealed that 13 of the children had also been sodomised.
GISB has since denied the allegations of child exploitation and sexual abuse.