Visitors heading for an inter-faith gathering in Terengganu were greeted by a police roadblock at the junction outside the small village that is home to a self-proclaimed spiritual leader Ayah Pin.

Among them was a 15-member group invited to share their Christian faith and worship at the religious-cum-cultural event which saw more than 600 people from around the country converge on Kampung Batu 13, near Jerteh, last Thursday.

Relating his experience, evangelist Peter Poore who was in a van with two others - ferrying musical instruments from Kuala Lumpur - said they were asked to produce their identity cards and take an instant urine test.

"The police wanted to know where we were going. They checked my driving licence and IC before telling me to take a urine test for drugs. We had to wait for the test results and were later cleared to enter the village," he told malaysiakini .

"I just took it as a routine police check. In fact, Ayah Pin later told me there was nothing to worry about, as the police action was for the security of the village."

When contacted, Besut district police chief Mohd Soaihimi Rahim said the roadblock was a routine anti-crime exercise.

"Roadblocks are usually set up as a routine crime-fighting operation, either to nab errant motorists or catch suspected drug addicts," he explained.

"This one is similar and has nothing to do with the village, its inhabitants or visitors coming here."

He said several locals who tested positive for drugs were later taken to the police station, but declined to reveal the exact figure.

Probe in progress

The gathering was hosted by Ayah Pin, whose real name is Ariffin Mohammad. His philosophy of uniting people regardless of race, colour or creed has become popular with a number of Malaysians. It attracted people from as Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

Ayah Pin, who held the event in conjunction with Hari Raya Haji, claims to be the reincarnation of the world's major religious figures, a stance which has had the police knocking on his doors several times.

Throughout the event, a Special Branch officer was seen recording the proceedings on video camera, taking photographs and talking to members of the Christian group.

About 60 representatives from the Orang Asli community in Gua Musang and Johor were more than happy to share in their traditional performance sewang, in which Ayah Pin and the villagers took part for two nights.

Hulu Besut state assemblyperson Nawi Mohamad, who was spotted in the village on Thursday night, said he was "just checking out the village and structures".

There are wooden houses and elaborate concrete-and-tile giant structures on the 2ha site of the commune.

Asked what he thought, he said: "Looking at these structures, all I can say is that there is a clear violation of land use. The state government could take action. In fact, we have already launched a preliminary probe and are in the process of taking action."

Nawi, who seemed reluctant to elaborate, said the category of land use must be changed if the landowner intends to erect such buildings since the village is sited on agriculture land.

Contacted today, Besut assistant land administrator Mohd Iskandar Abdul Aziz acknowledged that an investigation is in progress.

"We are compiling detailed reports through regular monitoring under the National Land Code 1965 to ensure that whatever is done on that land does not infringe on other people's interests," he said.

"There may be a violation of land use conditions prescribed by law. Usually, a land title clearly states the category and conditions for the use of land."

The land belongs to Ayah Pin's first wife, who has died. He has acknowledged having previously paid a RM8,000 fine for violation of the conditions of land use.