JERTEH: They wore ski masks, skullcaps, white flowing robes, all-black attire and, some of them, white headbands.
This was the description of the mob of about 30 to 50 people who attacked the Sky Kingdom commune near here early yesterday.
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
“It was a terrifying experience,” said cult follower Che Suhadi Gionan, 40, who saw the mob setting fire to the structures built by them at Kampung Batu 13 here.
He said he was jolted from his sleep at 5am by the sounds of several blasts.
“I ran out and saw the mob breaking and smashing flower pots and glass structures,” he said, adding that he tried to call the police but found the lines cut off.
Che Suhadi: ‘I ran out and saw the mob breaking and smashing flower pots and glass structures’. He fled through a jungle path, which took him to a house in Kampung Tenang 30 minutes later.
From there, he called the Pasir Akar and Kampung Raja police stations to ask for their help.
Che Suhadi said the intruders came in several cars that did not have number plates.
Another follower Azel Sajit, 30, said he was guarding the “Noah’s Ark” when he spotted the mob rushing into the compound.
He ran into his house, about 30m away, to avoid being spotted.
“From the windows, I saw them going on a rampage and I was scared that they would injure the children and women staying in the houses.
“Fortunately, they did not enter the houses,” he added.