KUALA LUMPUR: A collective decision by all quarters on a fatwa regarding the deviant teachings of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) could be reached this month.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Dr Zulkifli Hasan said this was after the National Council Fatwa Muzakarah Committee, which met recently, concluded its discussion on GISB.
The meetings's findings, he said, would see a religious opinion presented to the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) and subsequently to the Council of Rulers.
"InsyaAllah, we will have a collective decision this month, which may then be gazetted by the respective states," Zulkifli said in an interview with news outlet Channel 10.
Zulkifli clarified that the MKI does not have the authority to issue a fatwa.
The MKI, he said, issues a judicial opinion on religious law, with the states issuing the respective fatwa.
"Religious matters are very sensitive. We need to follow the process. What is important is that it has progressed well and considers all views, including the opinions of the Council of Rulers," Zulkifli said.
He also shed light on misleading claims made regarding GISB as an Islamic business enterprise.
GISB, he said, was not promoting Islam.
"Generally, Islam is just, Islam is compassionate, Islam is merciful. Islam promotes equity and justice. From this perspective, we want to clarify to the public, even to scholars.
"What GISB is promoting is not Islam but manipulation, which we must prevent.
"If anyone claims that this is Islamic economics, it is actually far from it because all the factors involved are not Islamic," he said.
In addressing the broader implications of the case, Zulkifli reaffirmed the government's commitment to assisting those affected by GISB's teachings and ensuring such incidents do not recur.
"We want to correct the situation, assist those who are victims or involved, and most importantly, ensure that this does not happen again.
"All agencies play a role so that we look not only at GISB but also address other similar teachings," he said.
On Thursday (Oct 3), Selangor became the latest state to declare GISB as an entity that promotes deviant teachings contrary to Islamic teachings, after Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah consented to the decision made by the Selangor Fatwa Committee on Sept 30.
This came after Perlis, on Sept 20, became the first state to declare as such after the Perlis Fatwa Committee received compelling evidence that the "batiniah" (esoteric) elements in GISBH's teachings are a continuation of the cult-like teachings of al-Arqam.
GISB came under the spotlight last month after police conducted a series of raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan linked to the organisation.
A total of 402 people were rescued, the majority being children and teenagers.
Police said initial investigations suggested elements of child labour, abuse and neglect.
Police have since trained their investigations on the money trail within GISB, including its overseas operations.
Police have also extended the remand order on the GISB chief executive officer, among other several high-value targets arrested under Op Global, until Oct 10.