GISB Holdings

GISB Holdings, formally Global Ikhwan Services & Business Holdings Sdn Bhd, was a Malaysian conglomerate and Islamic organisation established in 2008 as the successor to the Al-Arqam movement, which was banned in the 1990s for deviant teachings. It grew rapidly across multiple business sectors, positioning itself as a leader in Islamic practices in Malaysia and abroad. Its activities spanned agriculture, trading, daily services, media and medicine, with total assets of approximately RM325 million as of 2024. Internationally, it operated halal restaurant chains such as Nur Malaysia or Nur Muhammad in major cities including Istanbul and Paris, and the Wadi Berkat tourism resort in Hudaibiyah, Saudi Arabia. It also ran a non-profit youth wing, Remaja Pembela Ummah (RPU), and a network of charitable homes for orphans, single mothers and the poor. In 2024, GISB was exposed for various violations of Islamic teachings and human rights, including worker exploitation and child abuse, leading to a crackdown operation. The company was initially banned in Penang on 16 October 2024, then in Sabah on 22 October 2024, and finally the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) decided on a full nationwide ban and dissolution on 14 November 2024.

GISB Holdings, formally Global Ikhwan Services & Business Holdings Sdn Bhd, was established in 2008 as the successor to the Al-Arqam movement, which was banned in the 1990s for deviant teachings. After the banning of Al-Arqam in 1994 and the detention of its leaders including its main leader Asaari Muhammad or Abuya, the remnants of the movement formed Rufaqa in late 1997 to continue Al-Arqam's ideology. However, Rufaqa was raided and investigated in 2006. After the crackdown on Rufaqa, followers of Al-Arqam's teachings established another organisation in 2008, namely Ikhwan, before being rebranded as GISB. Originally, GISB's executive chairman was Asaari's widow, Hatijah Aam, until her death in 2015, after which she was replaced by Datuk Rasidi Abdullah. Meanwhile, Nasiruddin Mohd Ali served as chief executive officer as of the 2020s. In mid-2024, a movement was launched to expose GISB's controversies and ideology seen as continuing Al-Arqam's legacy, led by religious figures such as the Mufti of Perlis, Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin. The movement was also active online, such as the Pusat Kajian Ajaran Sesat (PUKAS) website, which gathered evidence of GISB's controversies, including practices violating Islamic teachings, as well as various human rights violations such as labour exploitation and child labour. This led to initial police raids on GISB-owned childcare homes, leading to the exposure of child exploitation, including sexual abuse of children. These findings then expanded into a comprehensive investigation of GISB in an operation named "Ops Global". The company was initially banned in Penang on 16 October 2024, then in Sabah on 22 October 2024, and finally MKI decided on a full nationwide ban and dissolution in Malaysia on 14 November 2024.

• Al-Arqam movement banned and its leaders detained

• Rufaqa established by remnants of Al-Arqam

• Rufaqa raided and investigated

• Ikhwan established, later rebranded as GISB

• Death of executive chairman Hatijah Aam; replaced by Datuk Rasidi Abdullah

• GISB banned in Penang

• GISB banned in Sabah

• MKI decides on nationwide ban and dissolution

Islamic conglomerate promoting Islamic practices in business and society

• Nur Malaysia / Nur Muhammad halal restaurant chain

  Halal restaurant chain operating in major international cities such as Istanbul and Paris.

• Wadi Berkat tourism resort

  Tourism resort located in Hudaibiyah, Saudi Arabia.

• Remaja Pembela Ummah (RPU)

  Non-profit youth organisation promoted as a medium for practising Islamic practices in society.

• Charitable homes network

  Network of 'rumah amal' across Malaysia housing vulnerable groups such as orphans, single mothers and the poor.

1. 1GISB Holdings - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2GISB Holdings - Wikipedia (Malay)ms.wikipedia.org
3. 3GISB Holdings official websitegisbh.com