KUALA LUMPUR – Could Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH), a private Muslim conglomerate currently under police investigation for an array of offences, have potentially transgressed into a militant-style terrorist group, or do they employ a different approach?
Now in the spotlight for its alleged involvement in, among others, human trafficking and money laundering, GISBH has been linked to the Al-Arqam movement, which was banned by the government in 1994 due to its deviant religious philosophies.
Before being declared illegal by the National Fatwa Council three decades ago, Al-Arqam also faced allegations of maintaining an armed wing dubbed the Badar Army, which is said to have trained hundreds of members for combat to protect the movement’s founder and spiritual leader Ashaari Muhammad, commonly referred to as “abuya” or father in Arabic.
Noting that the “slanderous” claims of Al-Arqam forming a suicide squad were later revealed to be a “mere propaganda exercise”, Universiti Sains Malaysia’s political science professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid pointed out that militancy would be going against the movement’s Sufi-based principles.
The Sufi school of thought refers to Islamic mysticism beliefs focused on spiritual connection with god through love and self-purification, with its practices often clashing with Salafism, which advocates strict adherence to Islamic scriptures.
“Albeit unorthodox and peculiar in its doctrines and approach, Al-Arqam was – by and large – a peaceful movement.
“If it remained steadfast to its Sufi principles of love and care as the key to universal unity, it would never develop into a militant variety of political Islam,” Fauzi, who has written extensively on Al-Arqam, said when contacted by Scoop.
Referencing how GISBH had “put up no fight” when its premises nationwide were raided by authorities, the Islamist movement academician asserted that the group can be deemed as “non-violent extremists” since it did not institutionalise violence as a group practice.
When questioned on whether GISBH can still be considered “non-violent” if its members are accused of having perpetrated criminal offences, particularly sexual assault against children, Fauzi said such alleged incidents are “cases which unfortunately went out of control.”
“It wasn’t as if there were regular sex parties or a harem of boys in (premises linked to) GISBH as portrayed by the media. Sex sells, and the media knows this.
“Where they (GISBH members) have transgressed national laws, by all means, punish them, especially its board of directors. But, do so based on the facts of the case, not made-up stories.”
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University’s security studies professor Rohan Gunaratna cautioned that while Al-Arqam itself has no known links to terrorist groups, it has “trained” its members and can engage in militancy “when needed.”
“(Al-Arqam’s) main objective is to preach their ideology and radicalise their followers, not to engage in violence and terrorism.
“However, the potential for violence and terrorism still exists (as) most deviant groups can embrace militancy if they are not detected and disrupted at an early phase,” he told Scoop.
As such, he said that “disrupting, degrading and dismantling” any group found to have engaged in deviant religious teachings is the right way to secure the public and the nation’s safety, urging the government to take firm action against those who distort faith for their personal and political gain.
‘Not terrorists, but definitely still a threat to national security’
While security practitioner and researcher Munira Mustaffa similarly classified Al-Arqam and its offshoot GISBH as cults posing a threat to national security, she said they are not comparable to militant or violent extremist groups such as the dissolved Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) or Islamic State-linked organisations.
She argued that JI, the terrorist group behind the fatal 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia, would have very likely held a very poor view of Al-Arqam and seen them as deviants or heretics.
“Unlike terrorist groups, Al-Arqam did not employ violent tactics or coercion to force or provoke the government into any negotiations or concessions, nor did it attempt to radically change the status quo,” Munira, who is the founder and executive director of security consultancy Chasseur Group, told Scoop.
“Groups cannot be labelled as terrorist entities unless they fulfil the necessary legal and operational requirements for such a designation.
“This differentiation is important for maintaining accuracy in threat assessment and ensuring appropriate responses from law enforcement and security agencies,” she added, noting that besides punitive measures, authorities should also consider exploring evidence-based approaches to address the issue comprehensively.
Munira added that understanding the complex criminal elements and religious aspects behind how GISBH has managed to sustain itself is crucial for developing effective countermeasures or deterrence policies.
“It’s likely (GISBH) sustained their operations through money laundering and their purported global presence may be a tactic for tax evasion to avoid scrutiny, auditing, and investigations. This could explain how they managed to avoid detection for this long.
“A multifaceted approach – incorporating both legal and sociological perspectives – would likely yield more effective results in dismantling such organisations and preventing their resurgence,” she said.
Munira also said that while Al-Arqam’s ideology and practices are ostensibly rooted in Islamic beliefs, their connection to mainstream Islam ends there as the movement deviated “significantly” by emphasising millenarian and eschatological ideas.
Such ideas are often negatively associated with an apocalyptic mindset and used as a justification for extremism, with charismatic leaders able to exploit the beliefs to gain power or control over their followers within a cult-like dynamic where critical thinking is discouraged.
“(GISBH’s motive) seems to be driven by financial gain, potential political influence and widespread sexual abuse. In GISBH’s case, the sexual abuse is particularly significant because it is employed as a tool for grooming, conditioning, and control,” Munira said.
“Cults typically operate in closed communities, also known as intentional communities, using isolating and abusive tactics to prevent victims from speaking out.
“(Such movements) often prey on unsuspecting victims who have unmet needs, feel directionless or are seeking spiritual guidance in the wrong place. Once individuals are drawn in, leaving becomes difficult due to their newfound dependence on the group for support and approval.”
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain previously said “brainwashing” tactics, including the use of threats and rewards, were utilised by GISBH against its members.
To keep them in line, he said the group’s followers were taught certain doctrines that promoted “fanaticism” towards their leaders, with those who obeyed the teachings being given “certain women as wives”.
The multi-agency probe into GISB, dubbed Op Global, was launched on September 11 beginning with raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri 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 criminal intimidation. – October 3, 2024