GISB eateries still open in the UK, says Malaysian envoy

PETALING JAYA: Despite having its businesses and properties closed down in Malaysia, Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) restaurants are operating as usual in the United Kingdom.

Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Datuk Zakri Jaafar acknowledged that several eateries owned by the beleaguered Malaysian conglomerate were still open for business.

However, he said that he did not have complete information on the actual number of the group’s businesses there.

“Yes, (we are aware) but we do not monitor them... they appear to be running legitimate businesses here,” he said when contacted yesterday.

GISB has restaurants in London, Paris, Istanbul, Dubai and Mecca.

When asked about the size of the London restaurant, Zakri said that it was “typical of any other restaurant in London” and he had visited the one in Manchester.

Over the past two weeks, scores of GISB businesses throughout Malaysia have been raided or closed down after allegations emerged of sexual abuse and exploitation of children at its welfare homes.

On Sept 11, police launched Ops Global, which saw raids on 20 charity homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan linked to GISB, which was once known as the business arm of Al Arqam – a cult that was banned in 1994 for deviant teachings.

On Sept 17, police said they were investigating GISB as an organised crime syndicate and that its welfare homes for children were unlicensed.

According to its own corporate video, GISB claims to employ a 5,356-strong workforce comprising 1,698 adults and 3,658 youth.

In interviews with several media outlets in August, its chief executive officer Nasiruddin Mohd Ali said the conglomerate had assets totalling about RM325mil and a network of 415 outlets worldwide.

Its businesses, which are spread across 20 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Australia, have earned the group an annual revenue of RM187mil.

The group’s businesses involve supermarkets, catering, poultry rearing and supply, event management, business consultancy services and travel agencies.

Meanwhile, Federal Territories Syariah Bar Council president Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar urged authorities to assist workers who were laid off following the multiple raids on GISB-linked businesses.

“First, it must be determined whether they are actually paid workers or being exploited without any payment, including children.

“If they are being exploited, they should take legal action.

“However, if they are salaried workers, the matter should be referred to the Industrial Court for failure to pay wages,” he said.

Under the GISB umbrella, there are 51 divisions spread across seven sectors.

The sectors are education and human capital; administration and finance; multimedia and communications; agriculture, livestock breeding and fisheries; community, welfare, family and health; youth and Sunnah sports; and business, manufacturing and tourism.