A few years ago, I drove by a street in Ipoh with multiple Ikhwan stores: a mart, a pharmacy, a bakery, and a restaurant. I thought it interesting that their business was so diversified, but that was about it.
On 11 September 2024, Ops Global exploded. The investigation into Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH), spanning almost 5 years, saw arrests in 4 states and around 600 children taken into protective custody. Then-Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Razarudin Husain revealed that some children were physically and sexually abused – and taught to abuse other children.
On 20 September, Subang Jaya state assemblyman Michelle Ng and I followed Anfaal Saari (Selangor EXCO for women and family empowerment, welfare, and care economy) to one of the safehouses. There were about 250 children, from infants to young teens. As Selangor Social Welfare Department (JKM) director Haji Azmir Kassim and his team briefed us, it was clear they were running on very little sleep and needed support. Between rushing to accommodate the influx of children, family medicine practitioners (FMPs) coming in and out to examine the children, there was little time for counsellors from JKM and the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH) to assess each child’s emotional wellbeing.
We met the children. Some were playing, some were excited to receive snacks from us – kids being kids. Some had visible bruises, scars or burn marks. JKM had also identified concerning behaviours among some children, indicating sexual trauma.
I remember crying angry tears on my drive home. To the Selangor state government’s credit, a taskforce was formed, led by Anfaal and Dr. Fahmi Ngah, EXCO for Islamic affairs and innovation. Following that, a workshop was held to draw up management and intervention strategies covering child welfare, the law, healthcare, and education and rehabilitation.
As the healthcare discussions went on, I noticed the huge information asymmetry. Some FMPs examined the children on the first night. Each visit involved changing numbers of children, as more were rescued. The FMPs had their files, the child protection officers (CPOs) had their files, and the police had their files. We were blind men touching different parts of the elephant – and the elephant was a woolly mammoth whose size we had yet to comprehend.
I’m not a medical professional, but I can organise. In short, we identified missing data areas and developed a mental healthcare protocol. To increase resources, I proposed utilising Selangor’s psychiatric treatment subsidy’s pool of mental health professionals. Unfortunately, due to existing commitments, that idea didn’t materialise.
Thankfully, clinical psychologist and Relate Malaysia founder, Dr. Chua Sook Ning, roped in Humankind, which operates the Buddy Bear helpline for children, and several members of the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP). Soon, we had a list of 31 professionals. Acting on JKM’s advice, this team was tasked to build rapport and trust, help the children develop autonomy, and refer those needing intensive care to the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Despite all that effort, the team only saw the children ONCE in November. In December, child court proceedings began; the setup was inconducive to therapy sessions.
In February 2025, 185 children were released to suitable caretakers on bond pursuant to the Child Act 2001. Caretakers must present the child to the nearest JKM office every 3 months and inform CPOs of address changes or travel plans. They must obtain court approval to transfer custody. Children referred to MOH were to continue sessions as seen necessary by their doctors. The Selangor state government also organised programmes to monitor the children’s welfare and rehabilitation.
I often think of these children. Are they safe? Are they happy? Are those who witnessed abuse – or were forced to be abusers – receiving enough support to heal?
This is why the recent court judgment, releasing 22 senior GISBH leaders after 15 months in jail, is so jarring. Yes, money laundering charges, involving a whopping RM24.1 million, remain. What about justice for the children?
To date, child abuse charges have mostly been filed against individuals or welfare home operators. Given the common thread of physical and sexual abuse exposed by Ops Global, at best, top GISBH leaders turned a blind eye; at worst, they condoned and exploited violence to exert control. Either way, they are complicit.
Malaysians deserve clarity. The hard work of officers who collected evidence, executed Ops Global, rescued and cared for the children must not be in vain. The 600-odd children – and those we may never know of – deserve justice.
I was there – and it must never happen again.