Its minister, Na’im Mokhtar, said the committee would probe to see if the company was involved in deviant teachings, according to Harian Metro.

“This special committee, under our purview, will help with research and provide data to the authorities, including the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (that recommends matters to the Conference of Rulers),” he was quoted as saying.

Na’im was commenting on the police raid on 18 welfare homes in Selangor and two in Negeri Sembilan which have been linked by police to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH).

Police rescued 402 children, at least 13 of whom were allegedly sodomised or taught to sexually assault others. The authorities also arrested 171 people, including an ustaz and a hostel warden.

GISBH has since denied that it operated the welfare homes that were raided, as well as claims that children under its care were sodomised and forced to sexually assault others.

It also denied exploiting children as workers.

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 is currently positioned as a multinational company.

Yesterday, the Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) said it was in talks with the police to transfer items reportedly belonging to various individuals that were seized during the raid for further investigation under the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Selangor) 1995.

Na’im went on to say that his ministry would help provide shelters and counselling for the rescued children and teenagers.

He also said the Malaysian Islamic development department (Jakim) had been ordered to help the police in their investigations.

“The ministry will not compromise when it comes to matters of the faith,” he said.