MAINPP president Mohamad Abdul Hamid said the council is waiting for a fatwa from the Penang fatwa committee regarding GISBH’s practices and beliefs before starting the rehabilitation programmes.

“We have already prepared the Darul Hidayah Complex as a faith rehabilitation centre. But everything depends on the fatwa,” Bernama reported him as saying.

Mohamad, who is also the Penang deputy chief minister I, said the fatwa would likely be announced this month.

Mohamad said 200 children and teenagers, believed to be the children of GISBH members from Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Penang, have been housed at a complex in Nibong Tebal since Oct 1.

They are aged between three and 19 years.

He said a special team had been formed to oversee and care for the children, who are undergoing an educational programme managed by the Penang education department. The children are also receiving psychological guidance and are attending religious counselling classes, he said.

Yesterday, the Selangor government announced that a task force would review a rehabilitation programme specifically for children rescued from GISBH.

In early September, police raided welfare homes across Peninsular Malaysia linked to GISBH, which is suspected of being involved in child abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, and deviant Islamic teachings.

A total of 572 people, including children and teenagers, have been rescued. The police also arrested 359 GISBH followers, including the company’s top management.