The chief executive of Islamic business organization Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB), which runs charity homes in Malaysia where children are suspected of being abused, Nasiruddin Ali, confirmed there had been "one or two" cases of sodomy at the homes. , but denied other allegations of misconduct and child sexual abuse.

Ali said police claims that children were sodomized were "disgusting" but acknowledged there were cases of such abuse in homes, Reuters reports.

Police this week rescued more than 400 children suspected of being victims of sexual abuse in charity homes run by the GISB.

Medical examinations showed that many children have injuries consistent with physical and sexual abuse, and 13 of them were sodomized, the police said on Friday.

Inspector Razarudin Hussain said police arrested 171 adults, including "ustazis," or Islamic religious teachers, during coordinated raids at 20 facilities across two Malaysian states on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

Among those rescued are 201 boys and 201 girls, aged between one and 17, after reports of alleged neglect, abuse, sexual harassment and abuse were filed this month, Razarudin said at a press conference.

He did not reveal who was the author of those reports, but indicated that all children's homes are managed by GISB, which stated that it does not manage charitable homes.

GISB is affiliated with the Malaysian-based Al-Arqam religious sect, which was banned by the government in 1994.

The company acknowledged the relationship but characterized itself as an Islamic conglomerate based on Muslim practices.