Two Former Ayah Pin Followers Among 13 Arrested Over Kelantan Palace Gathering

MACHANG, Nov 13: Police have confirmed that two former followers of the Ayah Pin deviant sect were among 13 individuals detained for gathering illegally outside Istana Negeri in Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu, on Tuesday (Nov 11).

Kelantan police chief Commissioner Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the two individuals, both in their 40s, were part of the group arrested during the incident. Urine tests conducted on all 13 detainees showed that five tested positive for drugs.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the group had gathered with the intention of handing over old items, including machetes, swords, and spears, to Sultan Muhammad VI, the incoming Sultan of Kelantan,” he said during a press conference at Dewan Profesional, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Machang, on Thursday (Nov 13).

He added that police are still investigating the roles of several other participants, including members of the Orang Asli community who were present during the gathering.

The case is being investigated under Section 143 of the Penal Code for unlawful assembly and Section 7(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 for possession of offensive weapons.

According to an earlier report by Bernama on Wednesday (Nov 12), the 13 detainees aged between 26 and 67 years old included one woman and three Orang Asli individuals. All have been remanded for four days to assist with ongoing investigations.

The Ayah Pin sect, which was banned by Malaysian religious authorities in the early 2000s, was known for its unorthodox religious teachings and symbolic “Sky Kingdom” commune in Terengganu. Authorities are now probing whether the two ex-followers had any ongoing links to the disbanded movement.