The #MeToo movement, which gained global traction in 2017, exposed widespread sexual abuse and harassment, compelling society to confront abuses of power, especially against women and minors.
These revelations highlighted how exploitation often hides behind systems of authority and influence.
In Malaysia, allegations of exploitation involving minors and women have emerged in the case of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH).
This situation mirrors other high-profile international cases where perpetrators systematically abused vulnerable individuals, silencing them through fear and manipulation.
The allegations against GISBH raise critical questions about the responsibility of businesses associated with such organisations.
As more details emerge, the conversation about restoring the affected companies and communities while maintaining moral responsibility and sustainable practices expands and involves more than just those directly impacted.
The exploitation in GISBH’s charity homes centres on the abuse of minors and women. These abuses, masked under religious authority and legitimate business operations, highlight systemic failures in governance and ethics.
We must hold the perpetrators accountable and dismantle the structures that allowed these abuses to flourish.
In the case of GISBH, victims reported not only being abused by their guardians but coerced into abusing other children.
This chilling cycle of exploitation highlights how deeply entrenched power structures can enable abusers to use fear and authority to control their victims.
The involvement of religious leaders in the GISBH case adds a disturbing dimension, as these figures, often seen as moral guides, are accused of betraying that trust to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals.
The parallels to international cases remind us that the victims in these situations often feel powerless and silenced by the very institutions meant to protect them.
These abuses are not isolated but are part of a broader pattern where power, when unchecked, creates environments ripe for exploitation.
The challenge now is not just to demand justice for the victims but to interrogate the systems – business and religious – that allowed such abuse to flourish.
Can these businesses, steeped in such allegations, be rehabilitated? And if so, what steps must be taken to restore faith and ethical accountability?
The financial impact on GISBH has been significant, with over 150 bank accounts frozen and businesses across multiple states ceasing operations.
The sudden shutdown of these businesses has had a ripple effect across their supply chain, underscoring the financial and ethical repercussions.
As GISBH operates on a global scale, the fallout extends beyond Malaysia, threatening international partnerships and prompting scrutiny of their operations under ESG principles.
Businesses today are accountable for their environmental footprint as well as their social and governance practices.
The allegations of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly minors and women, represent serious breaches of these standards.
Other multinational companies have faced similar challenges, from child labour scandals to unethical supply chain practices.
For GISBH to recover – if recovery is even possible – it must implement robust mechanisms to prevent exploitation and demonstrate genuine accountability rather than relying on surface-level compliance with ESG standards.
Despite the ongoing investigations, there has been little information about efforts to rehabilitate the victims, particularly women and children.
Rehabilitation in such cases requires more than legal remedies – it involves psychological and spiritual support, distancing survivors from toxic environments, and fostering safe communities.
Rehabilitation efforts, especially within religious organisations or businesses tied to faith, often involve reconciling individuals with their communities and religious practices.
Restoring faith would require the establishment of safe environments for survivors, ensuring they receive psychological and spiritual support, and distancing them from toxic systems of control.
While these steps are yet to be taken in GISBH’s case, similar situations have seen success through independent investigations and third-party oversight.
Any meaningful recovery would require legal restitution and commitment to ethical business practices.
Companies like Nike and Nestlé, which faced similar crises, have demonstrated that recovery is possible through stringent ESG standards but requires a deep and sustained commitment to change.
This case underscores the importance of sustainability as a journey where companies must account for their social and ethical impact, not just their environmental contributions.
The failures in GISBH highlight the need for stronger governance and more proactive accountability measures.
Businesses must move beyond surface compliance and enact structural changes that prioritise human rights and dignity.
The future of GISBH remains uncertain, with the path to recovery appearing bleak. However, the need for justice and rehabilitation extends beyond the organisation, calling for a broader societal effort.
It will take a village – not just the government – to ensure the rehabilitation of those affected, particularly women and children.
Communities, civil society, religious institutions, and businesses all have a role to play in providing the psychological, emotional, and spiritual support necessary to rebuild the lives of survivors.
Restoring their faith in societal and religious structures is essential to their healing and reintegration.
Furthermore, the government must scrutinise the rehabilitation of the businesses tied to GISBH.
These businesses, many of which are Bumiputera enterprises, play a significant role in the national economy, and their recovery must align with ethical and sustainable practices.
A balanced approach is needed to protect the financial viability of these companies and ensure that future operations adhere strictly to sustainability principles, preventing any recurrence of exploitation.
Finally, the rehabilitation of GISBH members in their Islamic faith is paramount.
This process should involve proper guidance from religious leaders and community-based support that fosters collective healing and accountability.
Spiritual reformation must be paired with efforts from wider society, offering support systems that help individuals reconnect with the core values of their faith, free from manipulation or abuse.
By addressing these three pillars – business, the vulnerable, and faith – the nation can move forward in ensuring that this episode catalyses long-term structural improvements in governance and corporate accountability.
This moment calls for reflection and decisive action to ensure that these abuses are never repeated and that future operations prioritise human dignity and ethical responsibility.
