LETTER | Immediate action needed on call for RCI into GISBH case

LETTER | Suhakam firmly supports the Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s (OCC) recommendation to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the grave allegations surrounding the Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) case.

The reported human rights violations, including mistreatment, exploitation, and abuse of children, call for urgent and decisive action.

Suhakam asserts that an RCI is the most effective mechanism for ensuring a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into these serious allegations. Establishing the RCI will not only hold perpetrators accountable but also address the systemic failures within the regulatory and enforcement agencies tasked with child protection.

Impunity for violations of children’s rights cannot be tolerated. The inquiry must pave the way for justice for the victims and comprehensive reforms to strengthen Malaysia’s child protection framework.

The GISBH case exposes significant lapses in oversight and governance, with the alleged abuses reportedly going unnoticed for over 10 years. Suhakam stresses that the inquiry should prioritise identifying institutional weaknesses that allowed such violations to persist unchecked.

There is an urgent need to streamline governance for child protection and alternative care institutions under a unified agency or authority.

The case highlights a fragmented regulatory framework, where different homes fall under various jurisdictions, including State Islamic Religious Councils, the Social Welfare Department, and, in some instances, the Education Ministry. This fragmentation has led to inefficiencies and catastrophic failures in allowing children to fall through the cracks.

Re-examine existing oversight mechanisms

Children’s commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki reiterates that establishing an RCI will not only uncover the root causes of these abuses but also propel necessary legal and institutional reforms to prevent such cases from recurring. It is time to re-examine existing oversight mechanisms and ensure robust protections across all institutions responsible for children’s care and welfare.

Suhakam calls on the government and all relevant authorities to act swiftly in supporting the establishment of the RCI. Such an inquiry will send a powerful message of the government’s commitment to justice, transparency, and the protection of children.

The RCI must provide a platform for victims, their families, and the public to voice their concerns, seek justice, and achieve closure.

Moreover, Suhakam urges all parties involved to fully respect the victims’ rights, particularly the children, throughout the investigative process.

Protecting children from all forms of abuse, exploitation, and neglect is a fundamental obligation under Malaysian law and international human rights standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Malaysia is a party.

In reaffirming our commitment to upholding human rights in Malaysia, Suhakam stands ready to assist the RCI in pursuing justice and accountability.

We are dedicated to ensuring that this inquiry not only delivers justice for the victims but also brings about the comprehensive reforms necessary to protect future generations of children from similar exploitation.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.