THE top to bottom crackdown of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) operations should provide a glimpse into the devastating effect of the Mufti Bill (Federal Territories) 2024 which is slated for second and third readings in the Dewan Rakyat either tomorrow (Oct 16) or Thursday (Oct 17).
Stating how the GISBH episode highlights “the dangers of fatwa (a ruling on Islamic law by a recognised authority) to everyone”, lawyer Charles Hector deduced that not only workers in the numerous GISBH-linked companies lost their jobs “when their employer falls victim to a fatwa” but this extends to those who have business dealings with GISBH.
“Those who have business interest with GISBH whether as shareholders, creditors or consumers could come from all ethnic groups, religions and even nationalities,” Hector argued in his latest blog.
“Imagine how business operations can be shut down by merely acting on the basis of fatwa or suspicion of religious deviation.
“GISBH may be the first company affected by fatwa but would unlikely be the last to fall prey to fatwa … the government may react or sometimes over-react by freezing accounts, shut down premises, etc.”
Tracing the chain of events from the outset, Hector regarded as “disturbing” what had happened to GISBH whose crackdown started with a concerted Op Global raid by the police on numerous children’s homes under the allegation of child neglect/sexual abuse.
“Then, one after another crime of the GISBH emerged and a crackdown on GISBH began – accounts frozen, businesses closed, property seized. This was not just restricted to children’s homes or even the company owner but seems like anything and everything linked to GISBH,” contended the human rights activist.
“This was most odd for normally perpetrators are usually individuals. And then, we ask why the crackdown seems to be anything linked to GISBH and a main reason was because they were ‘Islamic Deviants’.”
That there was no fatwa issued on GISBH by the religious authorities prior to its massive crackdown raises concerns that laws in the likes of the Mufti Bill (FT) 2024 can be leveraged upon as a ‘convenient excuse’ by the government of the day to justify an action against its enemies.
In the meantime, the Melaka Fatwa Committee which had issued a fatwa declaring the teachings and practices of GISBH as deviant, according to state Mufti Datuk Abdul Halim Tawil.
He said that the teachings and practices of GISBH exhibit similarities to elements associated with Al-Arqam, which was declared deviant in 1994, as well as Syarikat Rufaqa’ Corp Sdn Bhd (SRC), which was banned in 2007.
Perlis, Selangor and Pahang had earlier declared the teachings and practices of GISBH as deviant. – Oct 15, 2024
