KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has no plans to establish a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) yet to investigate crimes associated with Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB).
In a written parliamentary reply, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the police must be given the space and full trust as their investigations and operations are still ongoing to track down the remaining followers of the group.
He said they are not ruling out investigating the links of any government officials or political leaders into GISB.
"At this time, the ministry does not intend to establish an RCI regarding the crimes associated with GISB. The police must be given the space and full trust as their investigations and operations are still ongoing to track down the remaining followers of this group.
"The police is also monitoring GISB's activities abroad. If any legal offences are found, action will be taken through Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (MACMA) in cooperation with the Attorney General's Chambers and Interpol," he said.
He was responding to a question from Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) on whether an RCI is necessary concerning the crimes associated with GISB and how it was able to operate globally for years without their offences being detected by the authorities.
Lim also asked if there were any government official or political leaders involved or in collusion with GISB.
Saifuddin said based on the police's investigations, no substantial evidence has been found linking any government officials or political leaders to GISB or suggesting their involvement.
"However, the Home Ministry does not rule out any possibilities as the police's investigations continue from various angles under the relevant laws in force," he said.
Various groups including Suhakam have called for the establishment of an RCI to investigate the alleged crimes committed by GISB.
The commission said that child rights violations were unacceptable, and the RCI investigation would pave the way for justice for the victims and comprehensive reforms to strengthen the child protection framework in Malaysia.
On Sept 11, the police said it had rescued 402 people, some as young as one, from GISB-linked welfare homes who had endured various forms of exploitation and abuse, including being sodomised.
GISB has since denied the allegations of child exploitation and sexual abuse.
The police continued the raids nationwide.
As of yesterday, a total of 560 children — 283 boys and 277 girls — were placed in shelters after the Social Welfare Department obtained a temporary custody order from the court for two months under the provision of Section 25(2)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Saifuddin had also previously revealed that GISB were still practicing the banned "Aurad Muhammadiyah" teachings.