Posts misleadingly claim Malaysian casino given halal status

"Genting gets a halal certificate, KK Mart wins best entrepreneur award, GISB doesn't sell anything illegal but it was closed down. If this is not racist, what is?" read a Malay-language Facebook post on November 18, 2024. 

Malaysia's central Genting Highlands is home to Resorts World Genting, which operates an integrated resort featuring hotels, theme parks, dining and retail, as well as casinos -- which the post appears to insinuate has been granted halal status.

More than 60 percent of Malaysians are Muslims who must adhere to halal dietary standards, which prohibit certain foods (archived link). Gambling is also forbidden under Islamic law (archived link).

The post went on to claim that Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) was shut down despite not doing anything illegal -- apparently contrasting it to Genting and convenience store chain KK Mart, both Malaysian Chinese-owned businesses.

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Screenshot of the misleading post taken on December 4, 2024

The post surfaced after Jom Makan SkyAvenue and Jom Makan Street Food, two eateries in the Genting resort, were crowned the Halal Champion of Pahang, the state where the resort is located (archive link). 

Multiple posts on Facebook here, here, here and here shared the same misleading claim.

Halal champion

But the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (JAKIM) refuted the claim in a Facebook post on November 16 (archived link).

It said the halal certificate granted to Genting Malaysia Berhad, which operates the Genting resort, covers only the eateries on the premises.

"The halal certification has nothing to do with gambling as claimed online," it said.

The two eateries at the resort that were named "halal champion" were among 10 businesses given the award after extensive evaluation of their halal compliance policies. 

In a livestream of the awards ceremony shared by JAKIM on Facebook, representatives from other businesses -- including the dietetic unit of a government hospital, a poultry farmer and a bakery -- were also given the award (archived link).

GISB wrongdoing

The claim that GISB did not conduct illegal activities is also misleading. The group has long been controversial for its ties to the Al-Arqam sect, which has been banned in Malaysia since 1994 for its deviant teachings and cult-like activities. 

GISB ran a network of supermarkets, restaurants and travel agencies catering to Muslim customers in Malaysia and more than a dozen countries, but has been under investigation by Malaysian authorities since police raided the group's care home in September and rescued more than 600 children, some of whom were found to have been abused (archived link). 

They also arrested 415 people, including the chief executive of GISB, his wife, and senior figures of the company.

In November, Malaysia's religious affairs authority further accused the conglomerate of deploying "elements of slavery" in the way it operates its businesses.