Alleged abuse at welfare homes: Malaysia firm denies wrongdoing; neighbours say kids kept to themselves

WELFARE HOME RAID

Police rescued 201 boys and 201 girls from 18 charity homes in Selangor state in the early hours of Sep 11. They also rescued two from homes in Negri Sembilan. 

“The simultaneous raids at the charity homes at both states led to the arrest of 171 individuals including caretakers, ustaz (religious teachers) and the chairmen of the premises,” Mr Razarudin said on Wednesday, as quoted in the New Straits Times. 

He added that police had arrested 66 men and 105 female suspects aged between 17 and 64-years-old.

According to Mr Razarudin, the victims, who were locals, had endured various forms of exploitation and abuse including being sodomised by caretakers. They were also taught to perform similar acts on other children at the home.

The victims allegedly suffered punishment with heated metal objects and inappropriate touching under the guise of religious medical treatment.

“What we have seen is the indoctrination of children using religious tools in a harmful way,” said Mr Razarudin, as quoted in regional media. 

He added that the case was being investigated under laws covering sexual offences against children and human trafficking.

WHAT RESIDENTS NEAR A HOME SAID

Residents CNA spoke to in the quaint enclave of Kampung Seri Aman in Puchong, where one of the children’s homes that was raided by police is located, said they believed the home was linked to GISB.

They said the home that was raided – which was signposted as a welfare home for orphans and the less fortunate – only housed girls, while the boys came from another GISB-branded petting farm about a five-minute drive away.

Residents said the children, who are in their teens, usually kept to themselves and rarely took part in community activities.

When they are seen in public, they are usually engaging in business activities, like manning a café at the girls’ home, or peddling horse rides at a mosque near the petting farm.

When CNA visited the girls’ home, it appeared to be empty with its gates locked shut. The adjoining café, with banner advertising mixed rice dishes at half price, was also closed.

One resident, who lived opposite the home and only wanted to be known as Mr Rozi, said he saw many police cars while driving out to work on Wednesday morning, when the raid happened.

Mr Rozi said he always saw the girls come out to work at the café, and that he himself was in the dark about what had happened.

“I’ve lived here for 13 years; I did not suspect that things were happening behind closed doors,” he told CNA, referring to allegations that the children were abused.

Another resident who lives beside the home said the local community in the kampung had long known about GISB and its links to the Al-Arqam sect.

“But we did not bother to try to find out more, as they did not mix with the community,” said the resident, who only gave his name as Mr Jeffrey.

Mr Jeffrey said he saw multiple police vehicles while coming back from work at around 7.30am on Wednesday.

“I asked the police officer what was going on, but they didn’t want to say,” he said.