Demolition issue in court

KUALA TERENGGANU: The legality of the demolition of structures at the Sky Kingdom deviationist sect commune in Hulu Besut is now before the High Court here.

Che Minah Remeli, 58, has filed contempt of court proceedings against Besut Land Office administrator Wan Zahari Wan Ngah, who is also the Besut district officer.

The application was filed at the High Court registry here yesterday by her lawyer Haris Mohamed Ibrahim via a sect follower Sulaiman Takrib.

She also named the land office’s assistant administrator, Mohd Iskandar Muhammad Aziz, as the second respondent.

Che Minah, the first wife of sect leader Ariffin Mohamad, 65, better known as Ayah Pin, is the owner of the 2.2ha site where the commune was located.

When contacted, Haris said he would leave it to the court to decide on the matter.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh had said on Aug 1 that the land office did not receive any sealed copy from the High Court preventing the authorities from demolishing the structures.

It has been reported that the High Court had granted leave to Che Minah on June 21 to commence judicial review on an April 28 order by the land office directing her to tear down the structures.

Pending the outcome of the hearing, the court had also granted a stay of any further proceedings in relation to the demolition order.

On July 31, the land office demolished all the structures in the commune under Section 129 of the National Land Code.

Sky Kingdom

The Sky Kingdom is a quasi-religious interfaith commune located in the eastern Malaysian state of Terengganu.

While Malaysia has a secular legal system, the country is ruled by a moderate Muslim majority.

“Muslims in Malaysia come under the purview of religious courts that are not part of the secular federal legal system. Any attempt to deviate from Islamic teachings, or to leave the religion, can bring harsh penalties from the religious courts.” [Source]

Sky Kingdom leader Ayah Pin claims to be a deity

The group includes former Muslims

Haris said the Kuala Lumpur High Court had also fixed Aug 23 for mention of a case involving two sect followers who had renounced Islam in 1998.

He said Kamariah Ali, 54, and Mamat Daud, 74, wanted a declaration from the court that the Syariah court had no jurisdiction over them.

Source

(Listed if other than Religion News Blog, or if not shown above)
The Star, Malasia
Aug. 22, 2005
K. Suthakar
thestar.com.my
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Religion News Blog posted this on Monday August 22, 2005.
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