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However, what truly sickens the soul isn’t just the behaviour of these individuals. It’s the appalling response of some members of our society — the very people who should be condemning these acts are instead defending them, spinning excuses rooted in religious and cultural narratives. One key political actor, PAS, has issued a statement expressing support for the police investigation into GISB. While calling for action against individuals found guilty of wrongdoing, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan emphasised that the drive to punish should not negatively affect the group as a whole, especially its innocent members or the legitimate and beneficial activities of GISBH.
What’s most shocking is that we are expected to sit quietly while these narratives are pushed, as though we are too blind or too complacent to challenge them. This is not merely “disappointing”; it is a profound disservice to justice.A nation like ours, one that prides itself on diversity, human rights, and fairness, cannot stand by while such abuses are normalised. We must reject any attempt to cloak exploitation under the guise of religious business.
In addition to this, we also must not overlook the accounts of young women being indoctrinated at universities, marrying men within the sect, and being reduced to little more than slaves and reproductive machines for their husbands. What mechanisms have enabled this controversial group not only to survive but to prosper in Malaysia? The answer is simple: they have used Islam as a cover to continue their abuses and misguided religious practices. In a society where questioning anything that appears even remotely Islamic is frowned upon, many choose to turn a blind eye, relying on blind faith instead.
There is a clear reason why GISBH was allowed to thrive: as a nation, we are afraid to have open and critical conversations about religion, especially when parochial interpretations flourish from the mainstream narrative set by the authorities, and by extension, the government. This narrative is deeply rooted in patriarchy, emphasising male superiority and the expectation that women remain subservient.In Malaysia, there is an obsession with appearances.