Grooming and sexual abuse in Madrasas and child care homes is a national crisis

Murray Hunter

Grooming and sexual abuse in Madrasas and child care homes is a national crisis

The story behind Global Ikhwan and its concerns

Sep 12, 2024





As more in the aftermath of the police raids on Global Ikhwan Service & Business Holdings owned madrasas and child care homes are coming to light, hundreds of thousands of parents continue to send their children to these premises for child minding today. 

It was only night, the police IGP Razarudin Husain talked about how children were taught to sodomise each other at the madrasas they raided. Over the last decade, the writer has brought up this issue for peoples’ attention, as this is a national crisis.

Molestation and Sexual Abuse in Malaysia's Islamic Schools

by Murray Hunter
24 May 2021

As Malaysia’s ethnic Malays have increasingly turned to traditional Malay Islamic schools, known as pondoks or Tahfiz schools, the fact that they are largely unregulated is allowing problems to fester, including unsafe conditions, exposure to extremist teachings and especially child sexual abuse by ustazes, or teachers.

Read full story


Only two days ago, the GISBH chairman Nasiruddin Mohd Ali was threatening to sue reporters for defamation, this morning the GISBH headquarters at Country Homes, just north of Kuala Lumpur is empty. 

As the news about sexual child abuse at GISBH Madrasas’ was just beginning to break, the prime minister at the 17th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) at Kuala Lumpur, walked away from reporters to avoid questions. No statement has been made by the PM or any politician on this scandal that has affected so many families. Notable people who haven’t made any statement are the home minister who is responsible for the police, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and the ABIM education minister Fadhlina Sidek.

According to ZacZakirin13 on X, the Perlis Mufti had been warning about the actions of GISB for over a month, but no action was taken by JAKIM or the police, until a couple of days ago. ZacZakin13’s post hints at a cover up right into the top echelons of government.

Global Ikhwan

Global Arqam grew out of the Al-Arqam movement, the Islamic group founded by Ashaari Mohammad.

The movement, formally named Darul Arqam believed in taking life back to simply peasantry, where communities would be self-contained and sustainable, in accordance with the Islamic code. Followers wore an Arabic dress attire, which had great influence upon Malaysia culture.

Anwar Ibrahim was a close friend of Ashaari since 1970

The group became very popular with both young Malays and the professional class, as offering a basic style of Islamic community and economy, according to Ashaari’s vision. Many saw Ashaari as a Prophet, which quicky drew the attention of the authorities. The influence of Al-Arqam went far beyond Malaysia, into Indonesia and beyond.

There were rumours that Ashaari had a revolutionary army preparing to overthrow the government. This army most probably didn’t exist, and was government propaganda at the time. The group was finally banned in 1994, where Al-Arqam leaders were arrested under the Internal Security Act. Ashaari himself was arrested in Chiang Mai Thailand by the Thai authorities and handed over to the Malaysian police.

When Al-Arqam was banned by Mahathir Mohamed around 1994, the organization later reappeared as a commercial corporation, based in Country Homes. Global Ikhwan grew out of Rufaqa’, a company chaired by the late leader of Al-Arqam Ashaari Muhammad, who died in 2010.

In 2008 Global Ikhwan rose up to become and international company involved in mini-markets, restaurants, bakeries, beverages, travel & tours and trading houses in former Al-Arqam enclaves in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Middle East, Australia, Europe, and China. This was initially undertaken by Khadijah Aam, one of Ashaari’s widows.

These businesses supported communities, where the adults would run the businesses, and their children would be looked after in communal surroundings. They were looked after for free by ‘sisters and wives’ in charity homes provided.

Although Global Ikhwan is a global organization, the businesses in each country are small. Global Ikhwan is more an apex organization of many small SMEs supporting communities around the world. According to the Malaysian Reserve Global Ikhwan has “assets totaling approximately RM325 million worldwide, has built a commendable network of 415 business outlets across 20 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Australasia.” Perhaps the most well known Global Ikhwan business is Nur Malaysia.

Khadijah, one of the founders became well known later for her book advocating sex the Rasulullah way, which brough much controversy in 2012. Khadijah’s ideas were behind the Ikhwan Polygamy Club and Obedient Wives Club, where it was espoused by Rohaya Mohamed that wives should behave like high class hookers to please their husbands.

The writer has seen evidence of women travelling across countries to become temporary or contract wives of ex-Arqam men. In many of GISBH overseas operations, large numbers of youths are often seen at business premises, often living on the premises. How wide are these human trafficking activities.

Anwar Ibrahim must make a statement. How much did he know about what was happening?

Authorities where GISBH have operations need to investigate these allegations of child grooming practices across GISBH businesses around that world? GISBH must be fully investigated worldwide, to ensure what was uncovered yesterday, was not just the tip of an iceberg.

The silence of the Malay elite (including opposition) is troubling. It looks like the whole ‘Halal’ issue has just been some sort of diversion from this horrific story.