Although polygamy is legal in Malaysia, it is heavily criticised by local human rights groups and is rarely practiced in the open or with the knowledge and approval of all the wives involved in such a relationship. The enterprise, which employs 4, people worldwide through its complicated network of subsidiaries, operates restaurants, clothing shops, noodle factories and health clinics — just to name a few.
It also runs its own schools for children aged between 12 and 18, where the importance of polygamy is stressed throughout their education. Since the banning of the sect in , some activities funded by the company have attracted widespread media attention and criticism. In for example, the female employees of Global Ikhwan established the Obedient Wives Club — a move seen by the authorities as an attempt to revive the sect.
Most of the company employees are the descendants of the founders and first members of the Al-Arqam sect. However, the enterprise also attracts devout women from outside the original movement — like the Australia-educated Azlina Jamaluddin, who joined Global Ikhwan in and convinced her husband to enter into a polygamous marriage. January 10, - Rawang Malaysia. January 15, - Rawang Malaysia. Although polygamy is legal in Malaysia, it is rarely practiced in the open or with the knowledge and approval of all the wives involved in such a relationship.
Patients wait for a pediatric consultancy in a private clinic owned by Global Ikhwan. It also runs its own schools, care homes and rehabilitation centres. Azlina Jamaluddin right visits a friend, Nik Raihana 27 , who delivered a baby the day before at the Global Ikhwan clinic.
Despite been living in Kedah, five hours drive from Rawang, she chose to deliver her first daughter at the company's clinic. Some of their 27 children are attending boarding schools in Jordan, Australia and Egypt. Educated in Australia she joined the company in January 13, - Puchong, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Young female daughters of Ikhwan members attend the school to study arabics, read the Koran and following practical classes to learn how to cook, clean or take care of babies.
