BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang Fatwa Committee will decide whether the teachings and beliefs of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) are deviant or otherwise this Wednesday.
Penang State Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) president Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid said the state Fatwa Committee would hold a two-day meeting, starting tomorrow, to make this determination before bringing it for the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
"So, at the state level, the decision and determination will be made by the state Fatwa Committee, chaired by Penang Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Sukki Othman, after the two-day meeting," he said when met at the Penang International Halal Expo here today.
The Perlis Fatwa Committee was the first state to declare GISB's beliefs and teachings deviant and un-Islamic. This was followed by Selangor and Pahang.
It was reported today that the Melaka Fatwa Committee, which convened on Oct 3, issued a fatwa declaring the teachings and practices of GISB as deviant.
Melaka Mufti Datuk Abdul Halim Tawil said the teachings and practices of GISB exhibited similarities to elements associated with Al-Arqam, which was declared deviant in 1994, as well as Syarikat Rufaqa' Corporation Sdn Bhd (SRC), which was banned in 2007.
Mohamad, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister I, said while awaiting the decision, they are prepared to carry out an akidah (faith) rehabilitation programme for members, especially children rescued from the GISB-linked homes.
He said the faith rehabilitation programme in the state would be held at the Darul Hidayah Complex in Permatang Tok Gelam, near here, and they have prepared Takmir teachers to assist them.
"For now, the akidah rehabilitation programme has not started yet. We are waiting for the fatwa decision.
"It is just that from the perspective of preparing for faith rehabilitation, we are ready. This means that after the fatwa decision, we will implement the programme if the fatwa declares that GISB as deviant," he said.