Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said just because senior police officers, including himself, had been photographed with the company’s top management, it was in no way an endorsement of it, Bernama reported.

“Wrong is wrong. If our investigation uncovers evidence of criminal activities such as deviant teachings or sexual crimes, appropriate action will be taken,” he was quoted as saying.

Razarudin was asked to respond to the claims after several photographs of police personnel with the company’s management staff made the rounds online.

He said he himself had posed with individuals linked to the company at a horse race in Terengganu.

Razarudin also dismissed claims that police had prohibited the rescued victims from performing their prayers.

He explained that the rescued victims were allowed to pray, but on a rotational basis for security reasons.

“This claim is untrue. The victims were allowed to pray in turns for safety purposes. Additionally, even those temporarily housed at Pulapol (police training centre in Kuala Lumpur) have access to a mosque.”

Meanwhile, Razarudin did not rule out summoning the company’s top management after reports that the welfare homes allegedly under its care were exploiting children and religion.

However, he said there was no immediate necessity to do so as the probe is in its early stages.

“We may issue summons in the future, but for now, it is not necessary.”

On Wednesday, police rescued 402 children from 20 welfare homes linked to the company in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. They also arrested 171 people, including an ustaz and a hostel warden.

Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings, which police had linked to the welfare homes, has since denied that it operated the homes. It also denied that children under its care were sodomised and forced to sexually assault others.