Several Ayah Pin's followers, incensed over subtle references of them being Muslim heretics, today accused the national human rights commission of pre-judging.

They described how the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) had drawn inferences over their alleged failure to conform with the country's religious norms.

On July 27, a group of Kuala Lumpur-based followers filed complaints with Suhakam asking for a public inquiry into a series of alleged violations including unlawful arrests and detention.

They claimed an infringement of their constitutional and basic right to freedom of religion, life, security, liberty, and free thought and conscience.

Yesterday, several of them went to Suhakam to follow-up on the complaints but were turned away on grounds that the commissioners were in a meeting.

The commission's secretariat earlier confirmed that no follower of Ayah Pin had contacted Suhakam yesterday.

Ayah Pin or Ariffin Mohammad, a 65 year-old spiritual leader who claims to be God and the reincarnation of major religious figures has earned the title of deviant while the state religious authorities consider his followers as Muslim heretics.

Kamarulzaman Musa, 39, who was at the Suhakam office with four others yesterday morning, said they were met by two secretariat staff who "seemed uneasy with our presence".

Veiled prejudices

"Based on their body language and what they said subsequently, we knew we were not welcome there," he said.

"They also remarked on our religious practices and how justice was still available through the syariah courts and that religious matters should be handled by the syariah authorities.

"We were upset when we realised that Suhakam or those within it had already taken sides with the Terengganu religious authorities, a party to our complaints," he added.

Based on the brief discussion with Suhakam officials, he said he sensed that they were not interested in the complaints from Ayah Pin's followers.

"At least they were polite enough not to tell us to our faces. But I'm shocked to hear the veiled prejudices held by people in a human rights body."

Kamarulzaman said calls to Suhakam's complaints and public inquiry working group chairperson Prof Hamdan Adnan, who had received their earlier complaints, the whole day went unanswered.

"The staff later told us that he was in the commission meeting," he said, adding that they wanted to know if Suhakam will keep its promise of visiting Kampung Batu 13 spiritual commune in Hulu Besut.

"But they told us that we had been misinformed and started giving many excuses. They also told us that Suhakam cannot probe a complaint until and unless the commission approves it."

He said they also submitted photographs of the demolition in progress at the commune and a follower's account of being detained from the time he was arrested on July 20 until he was bailed out on Aug 4.

On July 31, the solid-concrete giant replicas of a teapot, pitcher and umbrella, among others, at the commune dubbed the Sky Kingdom, was torn down by district authorities.

Azli Karsani, a police chief inspector suspended from active duty following his involvement in the group, said he found it strange that Suhakam should have a stand before even studying their complaints. He is one of the complainants.

"My friends told me about what had happened at Suhakam. They've been there twice since last week and both times they returned empty-handed.

"I feel Suhakam should reciprocate or show some interest by going down to the ground. They can't just depend on us to feed them all the information they need for their investigation," he said.

"We complained after the first raid (on July 2) by the religious authorities. Now, even the structures are no more there. Yet, Suhakam does nothing about it."

Azli said the human rights body's reluctance in handling their case was obvious.

"They are more keen to question us and doubt our intentions as if we have done something wrong. They are treating us like we're beggars. If they can't help us, we'll find others who will."

Fed-up with inaction

His friend Che Suhaidi Jiman, who made an unplanned visit to Suhakam yesterday afternoon, said he was informed about the meeting and told to go home.

"I was asked to call and check later but when I did so at 5pm, I was told that the office was already closed for the day," he said when contacted.

"We're fed-up with Suhakam's inaction. They made promises that remain unfulfilled. I think we may have to seek redress elsewhere."

Contacted earlier today, Hamdan said the commission needed more details including "new evidence" and "new witnesses".

He said the information submitted by the complainants so far was "inadequate".

"We have not ruled out a public inquiry but we're unable to decide on the need for one based on what we have so far.

"We want them to provide us with more details so that the commission is convinced of the need for an inquiry," he said, adding that more complaints were expected on the same matter.

Hamdan said Suhakam cannot address matters that are already in court.

"But we would like an update on the later violations given that a lot has happened since the last complaints were lodged.

"I've already informed Ramdas [Tikamdas of Malaysian Human Rights Society (Hakam)] about this."

Contacted later, Ramdas (photo, left) said the complainants were waiting anxiously for a public inquiry.

"They are deeply distressed that after filing a formal complaint with Suhakam, the state authorities had entered the commune and rendered it into rubble," he said.

"Actually, we don't know what Suhakam's position is on this matter. I received an informal call (form Hamdan) asking for more information.

"He also told me that there is no formal inquiry until then but we don't know what exactly they want. As of now, it is unclear what their intentions are."

Hamdan could not be reached for his latest comments.