HUMAN rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim has lashed out at the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) for over-occupying itself with matters pertaining to halal and haram till allowing extremism to creep the country.
She was reacting to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain’s revelation of 402 children rescued during raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan which are allegedly-linked to the Global Ikhwan Group were forced to engage in sexual assaults, including sodomising each other.
According to Free Malaysia Today Razarudin further exposed that said some of the rescued children were coerced into sexually assaulting other residents while others suffered physical abuse, including being burned with hot objects for minor mistakes.
“JAKIM should be monitoring extremist religious groups like Ikhwan Global where there are elements of sexual abuse by children of the so-called orphanages when the kids are not even orphans but children of (the Ikhwan Group) members,” chastised Siti Kasim in a Facebook video.
“Why is there no reaction or voice of condemnation from (Malay/Muslim) politicians or JAKIM’s top brass? Is this because of the strong connection of Ikhwan Global leaders who are seen sitting with our PM (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and other powerful people as evident from photos shown on the X platform?”
However, Global Ikhwan’s holdings company, GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd, which was formed in 2010 from remnants of Islamic sect, the Arqam Group, has since denied allegations linking the company to child exploitation.
In a statement issued yesterday (Sept 11), GSIM has pledged to render cooperation with the authorities to solve the issue.
Stating that the accusations made by the police were serious and malicious, GISM further denied that the said welfare homes came under its control and would not hesitate to take legal action against “certain parties” which it accused as having a hidden agenda to tarnish its reputation.
Meanwhile, Siti Kasim also took a pot shot at Anwar whom in her view should be the first to condemn such an outrageous act of subjecting young children to sexual abuse.
“Fortunately, the police acted swiftly but only after police reports have been lodged when the truth is the matter has surfaced months ago with Dr Maza (Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin having consistently criticises the group in his series of lectures for more than a month,” noted the Orang Asli advocate.
“I hope the matter will not eventually end up as NFA (no further action) … I want to hear the condemnation coming from the Malay leadership (both in government and opposition).
“Where’re your voices to condemn such a major embarrassment incident when you would have reacted at lightning speed if the perpetrators are non-Malays/Muslims.”
Siti Kasim further chided UMNO Youth head Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over his “mild-mannered and double standard response” to the police raid on the children’s homes which also culminated in the arrest of 66 men and 105 women aged 17 to 64 who served as caretakers, religious teachers and chairpersons of the homes.
“This was nothing compared to the insults hurled at DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok or 24-hour convenience store KK Super Mart at the height of the sock-gate saga (in March this year),” asserted Siti Kasim.
“He was very nice about it by asking for time for the authorities to investigate … he didn’t berate nor say nasty things but simply implied to leave it to the authorities to do their job unlike calling names like kurang ajar or nyonya tua or to stick a non-halal stamp on Kok’s forehead”. – Sept 12, 2024
