5 religious schools in Kedah reportedly linked to GISBH closed

 

Kedah Islamic religious affairs department director Abd Ghani @Zulkifli Zainuddin said some business premises, such as restaurants or resorts reportedly tied to GISBH, are continuing their operations as usual. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Five religious schools in Kedah suspected of being linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) were found to be no longer in operation, according to the Kedah Islamic religious affairs department.

Its director Abd Ghani @Zulkifli Zainuddin said two of the five schools are located in Kuala Muda, two in Padang Terap, and one in Baling, Sinar Harian reported.

“However, when we conducted inspections, we did not find any materials that could directly link these schools to the firm.

We don’t have information on the number of students as the schools are closed, and no materials were found, unlike in other states,

 he was quoted as saying.

However, he said, some business premises, such as restaurants or resorts reportedly tied to GISBH, are continuing their operations as usual.

According to Abd Ghani, some of these business premises are operating but have changed or are using new names.

However, he stressed that no evidence was found at these business premises in Kedah that could link them to GISBH too.

When asked about the Kedah fatwa regarding GISBH’s teachings and practices, he said it was outside the department’s jurisdiction and that they are still awaiting a decision from the state mufti’s office.

Meanwhile, Sabah today became the latest state to declare GISBH’s teachings and practices as deviant. So far, four other states have declared the same, namely Perlis, Selangor, Pahang and Melaka.

In a statement, the Sabah mufti’s office said the decision was made at a special muzakarah of the 2024 Sabah fatwa council held on Oct 1-2.

This deviation encompasses aspects of aqidah (faith), shariah (Islamic law), akhlak (behaviour), family, humanity and economic transactions (muamalah) that can lead to division within the Muslim community and could potentially threaten national security,

 it said.

It added that GISBH had deviated from the true teachings of Islam. - FMT