Banned in Malaysia,thriving in Sydney :Ikhwan grows in NSW despite ban in Malaysia

by Ganesh Sahathevan


Malaysian company Global Ikhwan Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB Holdings) is part of the Al-Aqram sect, banned in that country since the mid-90s.
Al-Arqam financed its activities via a string of companies, whose activities were curtailed after the  ban. However, the GISB has found NSW and Sydney are far more welcoming place to do business and promote its activities, all under the watchful eye of the premier Gladys Berejiklian , her Attorney General Mark Speakman SC,and his Department Of Justice.

Butcher Ikhwan, Australia

Cafe Nur Muhammad, Sydney

References

Close watch on Al-Arqam

Posted on 10 June 2013 - 10:44pm
Last updated on 11 June 2013 - 09:47am

Print

KUALA LUMPUR (June 10, 2013): The remnants of Islamic religious sect Al-Arqam may still pose a threat to national security although the group had been banned by the government almost 20 years ago.

This is despite the death of its founder Ashaari Muhammad – affectionately known as "Abuya" and regarded as "God" by his followers – three years ago.

Commenting on a newspaper report that Al-Arqam was carrying out activities despite the group being banned since 1994, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin said police had kept a close watch on the group.

"We are monitoring them to ensure they do not threaten national security," Bernama quoted him as saying today.

Mohd Bakri said police will give its full cooperation to enforcement agencies responsible for handling deviant teaching groups.

Ashaari, who was chairman of a company called Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd, died at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital of lung infection in 2010.

The activities of Al-Arqam, or Jamaah Aurad Muhammadiah, reached a peak in the late 80s and 90s, when it was reported to have about 10,000 followers and its own commune in Sungai Penchala.

The movement's apparent radicalism first alarmed the authorities when a number of Malaysian Al-Arqam students were arrested in Cairo for associating with Islamic extremist groups in Egypt, and evidence revealed that the movement was preparing for armed rebellion.

In September 1994, some of its leaders – including Ashaari who was arrested in Thailand – were detained under the Internal Security Act.

The commune settlements were all closed and all former members prohibited from "intermingling" to revive the movement.

Ashaari was later released following rehabilitation and restricted to live in Labuan for about 10 years.

An attempt to revive Al-Arqam teachings became apparent when Ashaari's widow, Hatijah Aam, was arrested along with nine followers at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on her return from Saudi Arabia on May 13.

She will be prosecuted by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) in November for trying to revive Al-Arqam teachings.

Hatijah could also be charged under Section 12 (C) of the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995 for insulting religious authorities.

A number of activities sponsored by the group, which have attracted widespread attention and criticism, include the Ikhwan Polygamy Club and the Obedient Wives Club founded by Hatijah, which are seen as attempts to revive Al-Arqam.

The group, led by Hatijah, recently held a "spirits parliament" from June 2-4 in Jitra, Kedah, to explain the arrest of followers of Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd (GISB).
Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said Jakim is working with state islamic religious departments to gather information on Al-Arqam activities.

Bernama quoted Othman as saying Al-Arqam, via GISB, had opened restaurants and retail shops overseas, including in Saudi Arabia to show members that the group is still active.

"The business activities did not generate much profit. They also performed concerts and pantomimes promoting the ideals and beliefs of the group," he said.

He added that to convince members of the group's 'true teachings', Hatijah also opened several business outlets in Mecca and Medina.

They also distributed brochures in hotels frequented by Malaysian pilgrims in Mecca to promote their businesses and activities.

See also

Investigations into mysterious Mangrove Mountain farm

By Mary-Louise Vince

Posted 10 Jun 2015, 1:00am

PHOTO: Gosford Council is investigating activities on the property, where up to 50 people are believed to be living.

Mangrove Mountain residents are seeking answers from Gosford City Council about a mysterious farm which has been established on land, intended for an international agricultural boarding school.

The Council is investigating activities on the isolated property, where up to 50 people, including women and children, are believed to be living and farming goats and cattle.

According to a fence sign, the group is part of a Malaysian organisation known as Global Ikhwan SDN BHD, which was previously linked to a banned Islamic sect.

The sect, al-Arqam was banned in Malaysia in 1994 because of its deviant doctrine and practices.

The ABC contacted a member of the group, who confirmed goats as well as dairy and angus beef cattle were being farmed on-site but downplayed the number of people living there.

He refused to be drawn any further.

The ABC understands council officers inspected the property earlier this year and identified several unauthorised structures.

Locals have complained about it and want to know why nothing has been done.

"The concern is it's an unauthorised development, " said one resident who does not want to be identified.

"My personal concern is the welfare of the people living there.

"Children...are they attending school?

"Hygiene - is there effluent run-off from intensively grazed animals and humans going into the protected area?" they said.

The Wisemans Ferry Road property was at the centre of a controversial proposal to build an private international agricultural boarding school in 2013.

Residents along with Gosford Council staunchly opposed the plan, citing environmental concerns and a lack of detail about the development.

It was initially rejected by the local Joint Regional Planning Panel but successfully appealed in the Land and Environment Court several months later.

The ABC has contacted the proponent for comment.

Topics: islam, local-government, rural, community-development, mangrove-mountain-2250

More stories from New South Wales

And in Sydney

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20 hrs · 

Assalamualaikum and greetings everyone!!

Hope all are well!!
We are inviting you all for another PAYWD !

Eat as you please, Pay with your HEART!
"THINK OF FOOD, THINK OF GOD"

Hope to see you all!

Ikhwan Cafe Sydney
Shop 2, 1/27 Murray St, Pyrmont
NSW 2009

Cafe Nur Muhammad Sydney

October 15 at 11:47 AM · 

Assalamualaikum everyone!

the Facebook page 'Cafe NurMuhammad Sydney' will be shutting down soon, due to re-naming our shop name to 'Ikhwan Cafe Sydney'. Therefore we have made new Facebook page for Cafe and would invite everyone to go and like our new page. All of our latest posting will be posted on the new page.

Thank You from "Ikhwan Cafe Sydney"

*The 'Cafe NurMuhammad Sydney' Facebook page will be deleted within a months time.

"THINK OF FOOD, THINK OF GOD"
🇲🇾Ikhwan Cafe Sydney🇦🇺
🕋Shop 2, 1/27 Murray St, Pyrmont
NSW 2009
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Zhu Minshen's Top Group NSW LPAB review "went smoothly" despite not providing a cashflow statement LPAB ignores cashflow despite massive fall in market cap, falling cash holdings-Chairman of the LPAB was once a leading commercial QC,so LPAB actions hard to comprehend

by Ganesh Sahathevan




Zhu Minshen's Top Group recently released its Annual Results for the year ended 30 June 2019.The HKEX announcement did not include a cashflow statement, which is usually provided by listed companies together with the profit and loss statement and balance sheet:

TOP EDUCATION GROUP LTD

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANNUAL RESULTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

The results announced do show that  cash and cash equivalents fell from  HK  47,367,000 to HK42,352,000. but this can only be discerned from the Balance Sheet. 




Despite that exclusion, the dramatic collapse in market capitalisation and and the history of poor operating cashflow , Zhu was able to inform the the market that the recent review of Top Group's accreditation by the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board, which is chaired by the Chief Justice Of NSW Tom Bathurst and overseen by the AG NSW Mark Speakman, "went smoothly".
In the words of Zhu Minshen, as  chairman and CEO of his Top Education Group Ltd:



Bachelor of Law Re-accreditation

The scheduled re-accreditation process of our Bachelor of Laws (‘‘LLB’’) went smoothly. On 27 June 2019, TOP received formal notification from the Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales (‘‘LPAB’’) to accredit TOP’s LLB for a further five-year period commencing from the notification date.
(TOP EDUCATION GROUP LTD
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANNUAL RESULTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019)


The LAPB has a duty to ensure that  law students interests are protected but it is hard to see how its conduct in the matter of Top Group and Zhu Minshen is consistent with that duty.



Tom Bathurst, the Chairman of the LPAB,  was this country's leading commercial silk (or QC) before he became Chief Justice, so his conduct and that of the LAPB in the matter is hard to comprehend. 



END
SEE ALSO

Monday, May 27, 2019

Top Education Group share price movements require explanation from NSW LPAB, TEQSA,and AG Speakman; Top's declining cash flow from operations adds to worries

by Ganesh Sahathevan



It has been previously reported on this blog that the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB), and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) have refused to provide answers to queries from this writer about the persons and processes involved in granting Top Education Institute Ltd the "first and only" license to issue Law degrees that qualify recipients for admission to practice law in NSW and in Australia:TOP Education Institute's Bachelor of Laws : Political donations,HK Stock Exchange IPO seem to have left regulators confounded, speechless 


As reported, Top Group is controlled by one Minshen Zhu, better known for his political donations to both sides of politics.These include donations to the NS W Liberal Party in the 4 months or so prior to the LPAB granting Top Education Group its license to issue law degrees. Top Education Group made donations worth AUD 44 275 to the Liberal Party NSW Branch. 

NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman oversees the LPAB and the legal profession in NSW.He is also a member of the Liberal Party and the elected Member Of Parliament for Cronulla.


Top Group was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after it was granted the right to issue LLB degrees. Its prospectus contained a number of references to the fact that it was the "first and only" private company bestowed that right.

The hart below of Top Group's share price over the past year (it was listed in May 2018) shows clearly how volumes traded spiked just after listing, and how the share price has fallen from a high of HK 96 cents to a low of HK 27 cents.It currently trades in the HK 30-35 cent range.

(Source:https://www.tradingview.com/symbols/HKEX-1752/)

That sudden spike, and the dramatic fall is share price (and market cap,no new shares have been issued) would concern not only investors but also students, who have placed reliance on the LPAB,TEQSA and AG's impramatur. Regardless of that , all three have chosen to remain silent.

Their silence is even more troubling given movements in the Top share price which correlate to regulatory announcements.

In its annual report for the year ended 30 June 2018 , dated 24 September 2018 ,Top's management stated :

On 5 September 2018, we received a formal advice from Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales (‘‘NSW LPAB’’) that the re- accreditation process of our Bachelor of Laws will commence in September 2018 and may take more than six months to complete. This accreditation follows the normal cycle of re-accreditation. 

Readers can see from the chart above that on or around 5 September 2018 Top's share price (which was trending downwards) went into another steep fall, before spiking approximately 30%,from a low of about 30 cents to a high of about 40 cents.


The LPAB and Speakman decided to issue Top that license to grant LLB degrees despite an oversupply of law graduates and in doing so exposed themselves to the complexities of regulating degree issuers whose stock is traded on a stock exchange. Their actions will come under the scrutiny of investors worldwide (for the HKSE is an international market) regardless of their past practice. 

Top's declining cash flow from operations would be of concern not only to investors but also students who have enrolled in the Top LLB based on Speakman and his LPAB's impramatur.





Cash flow
All numbers in HK Dollar thousands

Period ending	30/06/2018	30/06/2017	30/06/2016	30/06/2015
Net income	1,553	4,602	3,442	4,761
Operating activities, cash flow provided by or used in
Depreciation	243	253	217	136
Adjustments to net income	-386	435	-835	125
Changes in accounts receivable	58	-58	-58	-58
Changes in liabilities	495	348	675	-1,133
Changes in inventory	-	-	-	-
Changes in other operating activities	429	152	1,668	-402
Total cash flow from operating activities	3,172	6,321	5,588	3,912
Investment activities, cash flow provided by or used in
Capital expenditure	-473	-346	-532	-104
Investments	-	-	-	-
Other cash flow from investment activities	-	-	-	-
Total cash flow from investment activities	-1,810	-1,682	-1,866	-980
Financing activities, cash flow provided by or used in
Dividends paid	-6,283	-8,889	-5,000	-5,000
Sale purchase of stock	-	-	-	-
Net borrowings	-	-	-	-
Other cash flow from financing activities	-3,009	-106	-164	-164
Total cash flow from financing activities	29,905	-6,495	-2,664	-2,664
Effect of exchange rate changes	-	-	-	-
Change in cash and cash equivalents	31,267	-1,856	1,058	2,932

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Google flies the Malaysian flag over Luconia Shoals

by Ganesh Sahathevan

The above is what one sees when one clicks on  the North Luconia Shoals icon on Google Maps and Google Earth.
It is good to see that at least Google is happy to fly the Malaysian flag over Luconia Shoals.

END


SEE ALSO

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Pedra Branca/Batu Puteh decision suggests Malaysia has surrendered right to Luconia-removing own flag from Luconia Shoals in stark contrast with past practise

by Ganesh Sahathevan

These submissions by the  Government Of Singapore to the International Court Of Justice in the Pedra Branca/Batu Puteh matter were part of Singapore's ultimately successful defence against Malaysia's claim:

6.53 It should be noted that Malaysia has demonstrated her awareness of the significance of flying national emblems over territory for purposes of evidencing sovereignty. Malaysia demanded (and obtained) the lowering of the Singapore Ensign flown until 3 September 1968 over another lighthouse facility maintained by Singapore at Pulau Pisang, a territory over which Singapore does not exercise or claim sovereignty.

7.11 In the present case, neither Johor nor Malaysia ever protested against the regular flying of the British and Singapore emblems over Pedra Branca, even though this was done as a clear display of State authority and without seeking consent from Malaysia or Johor, and Malaysian officials were fully aware of this. 

7.12 Moreover, Malaysia’s long silence regarding this clear and public manifestation of Singapore’s sovereignty over Pedra Branca since 1847 is in sharp contrast to Malaysia’s response to the flying of the Singapore marine ensign on the lighthouse administered by Singapore at Pulau Pisang, an island which belongs to Malaysia. In 1968, Malaysia objected to the flying of the Singapore flag over Pulau Pisang Lighthouse320. Following Malaysia’s objection, Singapore ceased flying her flag on the Lighthouse. In contrast, at no time had Malaysia ever protested against Singapore’s flying of her flag over Pedra Branca. 7.13 If Malaysia had any belief that she had a claim to sovereignty over Pedra Branca, one would have expected Malaysia to have exercised or attempted to exercise her sovereign authority over the island in the same way that she had done with respect to Pulau Pisang, if only to put on record that, notwithstanding Singapore’s presence on Pedra Branca, Malaysia had sovereign authority over the island. This omission on Malaysia’s part is especially significant as it occurred shortly after Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia in August 1965, when the governments of both countries treated each other with the utmost caution on bilateral issues. 

7.14 Singapore contends that, given these facts, Malaysia had consciously (and correctly) decided that, in contrast with Pulau Pisang, any protest was not appropriate with respect to the flying of the Singapore flag on Pedra Branca. 

Given that these arguments led to the decision against Malaysia, one would expect that the Government Of Malaysia would exercise and strenuously defend its right to fly the flag on all its possessions, but this was obviously not the case with Luconia Shoals.  It is hard to see that by removing its own flag, Malaysia has not surrendered its right to the Shoals.

In fact, it does seem as if China has already assumed control of the shoals:

(Hans Berekoven, an Australian  marine archaeologist) chose Malaysia's independence day, August 31 last year, to protest against the situation by raising the Malaysian flag on the tiny island.

It is the first time the video of the incident has been released.

"I took the curator of the museum that we're working with, and a couple of other Malaysian friends, and a journalist from the Borneo Post," he said.

They mounted a stainless steel flagpole into a cement footing and raised the Malaysian flag, as the China Coast Guard vessel watched from about 500m offshore.

"They must have got on the blower to Beijing and Beijing must have got on the blower to Kuala Lumpur, because suddenly there was a big kerfuffle in KL," Mr Berekoven said.

The next morning, a Malaysian aircraft flew low over Mr Berekoven's boat and the island.

"A Malaysian coast guard vessel was despatched. Went out there and unbolted the flag," he said.

"It's absolutely absurd. It's 88 miles, well within the 200 mile economic exclusion zone, and they've forced the Malaysians to take the flag down — their flag, asserting their authority, their sovereignty."

END 

Reference

ABC Australia reports that Malaysia surrendered special rights to Luconia Shoals to China : Rights to adjoining EEZ may be lost

Did the Glorious State of NSW attempt to frustrate moves to extradite F.Gulen from the US? Perceptions matter, Governor, Premier,senior members of the judiciary must provide answers

by Ganesh Sahathevan

Gladys Berejiklian (right) and Governor Margaret Beazley 

The Washington Post and others have reported that , Rudy Giuliani privately urged President Donald Trump in 2017 to return a Turkish cleric living in exile in the Poconos back to Turkey to face criminal charges.




At and around that time senior members of the NSW Government and judiciary, including the Premier Gladys Berejiklian, current Governor Margaret Beazley (who was then president of the Court Of Appeal), and the Chief Justice Of The Supreme Court NSW Tom Bathurst supported in heir offical capacity various Gulen activities in NSW. They did so despite protests from the successive ambassadors from Turkey.




The above names as well as the Attorney General NSW Mark Speakman AG have refused to provide answers to the numerous stories published by this writer and others, including the SBS, about this embarrassing state of affairs which put Australia at odds with Turkey's interest despite Turkey being a friendly nation with which Australia maintains diplomatic relations.

Indeed, the AG's officers have accused this writer of "defaming" Governor Beazley for simply pointing out that she had associated herself with an organisation accused of terrorist activity, and known for influence peddling.







The Washington Post story raises the possibility that the above named knowingly or otherwise attempted to frustrate the moves to extradite Gulen. After all, how could anyone accuse the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, and the Attorney General of poor judgement.




Nevertheless, this support for Gulen has frustrated Turkey. As SBS reported in 2016:

SBS contacted the Turkish Ambassador to see whether the embassy here had issued similar warnings to politicians as had been delivered in New Zealand. In both countries, MPs on either side of the political fence did not heed the embassy’s advice last month. They attended the iftar dinners.

Ambassador Gokdenizler tells SBS:

“Of course we are concerned, and of course we warned both federal and state authorities about how we approach these groups. This is not something new. We have been doing it for a few years.”

But he concedes: “The things is, I have no way of knowing whether there are some terrorist activities in Australia. But since the government of NSW is [hosting the iftar dinner], they’re not seen as such.”

The above is almost Boratesque, with NSW personalities seeing themselves as players on the world stage, not simply "making learnings" of complex international affairs, but attempting, it would seem, to interfere in the affairs of a friendly nation.

END




See also
Gulen, Governor Beazley, the Premier and AG NSW and members of the judiciary : Revelation of Gulen's financing raises perception of bias that must be addressed.

If Dawood Ibrahim funded Zakir Naik and his IRF, then Pakistan's ISI cannot be too far behind

by Ganesh Sahathevan



See first for reference and background, an article by the late B.Raman:

The Dawood Ibrahim Gang

And then on Dawood Ibrahim and Zakir Naik:

Report: Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim funded Zakir Naik’s NGO

KUALA LUMPUR: The brother of India’s notorious gangster Dawood Ibrahim has revealed that Dawood Ibrahim had helped fund controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation.

According to The Siasat Daily, Iqbal Kaskar admitted to police on Tuesday that the underworld don used to fund the IRF.

The report said Naik’s chief financial officer, Aamir Gazdar, too, had said that Dawood had funded the IRF.

Dawood Ibrahim fled India several years ago and is living in Pakistan. The money to IRF is said to have been sent via Pakistan.

Naik, who fled India after police opened investigations into alleged money laundering and terrorism-related offences.

The Siasat Daily said Iqbal Kaskar had been arrested on charges of extorting money from property developers for Dawood Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, The Asian Age reported that India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a case against Iqbal Kaskar and two of his associates for allegedly laundering extortion money abroad.

Part of this money, the report said, was believed to have been rerouted to India as donation to Naik’s IRF.

It quoted an unnamed senior ED official as saying that they were probing the link between the money sent out of India and donations to IRF.

Sources in the ED told The Asian Age the properties allegedly extorted by Iqbal Kaskar and his associates were later sold and the money made out of such transactions, along with cash extortions, were sent to Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan and Iqbal Kaskar’s family in Dubai.