Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) said allegations that it had been exploiting children were malicious slander aimed at putting the company in a negative light.

“We deny these allegations and stress that the company will not compromise with any activity that goes against the law, particularly regarding the exploitation of children as workers.

“We are ready to offer our cooperation to the authorities to resolve this issue,” it said in a statement.

Earlier, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan were raided this morning, with 402 children, aged between one and 17 years, rescued.

A total of 171 people were also arrested in the operation conducted by the Bukit Aman criminal investigation department’s anti-human trafficking and migrant smuggling division.

Razarudin said the 402 rescued children, comprising 201 boys and 201 girls, were believed to be victims of both physical and sexual abuse, as well as abandonment.

The IGP was quoted by NST as confirming that the homes were linked to GISBH.

Meanwhile, Razarudin said police are still investigating allegations that the company was involved in exploiting children, particularly to collect donations, reported Utusan Malaysia.

The company’s officials are also supposed to meet the Islamic development department (Jakim) over claims it was involved with the “deviant teachings” of the banned Al-Arqam sect.

GISBH owns supermarkets, minimarkets, bakeries, 120 restaurants and other businesses in Malaysia, the Middle East, Europe and China, according to a 2022 report.

It previously said it had discarded its former image as the business wing of Al-Arqam and was currently positioned as a multinational company.