KUALA LUMPUR — Police have uncovered “brainwashing” tactics by Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings on its members, such as the use of threats and rewards, including giving wives to male followers.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain told Utusan Malaysia this, adding the information came from GISB followers who wanted to leave the group.
He said members had to obey GISB leaders and those who did not would be threatened.
To keep them in line, he said the group’s leaders taught followers the certain doctrines that promoted “fanaticism” towards leaders.
Razarudin said police had found pamphlets and reading materials on these doctrines.
As reward, those who obeyed the group’s leaders were appointed as leaders and were also given “certain women as wives”, the Malay daily quoted him as saying.
“As such, when police investigated several individuals, including the top leader of GISB, we found that they had more than two wives,” Razarudin added.
He previously told the media that some male GISB members may have up to 34 children from multiple wives and did not know all of their children.
The group has about 10,000 members, including children, whom police are still working to identify.
Razarudin said police will investigate to see if their registration as GISB members was done according to law.
The top cop previously urged GISB members and ex-followers who have lodged police reports but retracted them to come forward to help with the investigation.
The probe into GISB, dubbed “Op Global” was launched on September 11 beginning with raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan linked to the group over allegations of child abuse and exploitation.
572 victims have been rescued, while over 300 individuals have been arrested. Several people linked to the care homes have been charged, including for child abuse and for criminal intimidation. — September 27, 2024