JERTEH: The leader of the “Sky Kingdom” deviationist religious sect said he would not stop the authorities from demolishing the giant structures, including a teapot, on its commune near here.
“But the action will seriously tarnish the image of the Government internationally,” said Ariffin Mohamad, 65, better known as Ayah Pin.
[The] six-acre commune, dominated by a building about the size of a two-story house, shaped like a giant pink teapot. Next to it is an umbrella shaped building and an assortment of other objects, such as a fishing boat and an oversized vase containing “holy” water.
– Malaysia’s Teapot Cult Stands in Face of Staunch Islamic Tradition
Ayah Pin and his followers – he claims to have several thousand in Malaysia, Singapore, Bali and beyond – say the two-storey-high teapot was inspired by the dreams of one of the cult’s followers, and reflects a similar vessel in the sky which God uses to shower his blessings on mankind. Followers who come to the village for the first time have to drink “holy water” pouring from a giant vase that is perpetually filled by the teapot.– Sect where blessings pour from a teapot
Besides the teapot, the other giant structures on the sect’s commune on land bordering rubber trees and an orchard at Kampung Batu 13 near here, included a vase, umbrella, concrete boat and a “palace.”
The structures were built over 10 years ago at a cost of more than RM1mil.
Ayah Pin told this to The Star during an interview at the commune yesterday. He was sitting in a wooden coffeeshop with about 30 followers of all races.
Rosli Abdul Samad, the liaison officer of the commune, said the structures combined the architectural elements of major religions such as Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism.
“It is aimed at promoting universal unity. The teapot signifies the purity of water and its medicinal values. It is associated with all major religions, including the water oozing from Lord Shiva’s forehead.
“The umbrella is a place for people to take shelter beneath God and it can also be associated with the nine planets in Hinduism.
“The boat symbolises the love of parents.”
Besut district officer Wan Zahari Wan Ngah said he would act against the landowner, Che Minah Ramlee, 58, who is Ayah Pin’s wife, under Section 129 of the National Land Code.
He said the section empowers the district office to summon a landowner for a hearing.
“She must be present at the office within two weeks from the date of the notice to explain why the structures were not demolished,” he added.
Wan Zahari said they would seek an order from the court to tear down the structures if she failed to attend the hearing.
“We only allow structures related to agriculture to be build on the land and whatever built now is illegal,” he added.
Last October, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zain had said Ayah Pin was jailed 11 months and fined RM2,900 in June 2001 for humiliating Islamic teachings.
He had also said that the teachings of Ayah Pin were dangerous since the members of the group had declared themselves as apostates.