The Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed a judicial challenge posed by four Indonesians who were charged at the syariah court last year for allegedly being followers of Zubir Amir, whom they purportedly identified as Imam Mahdi.

Imam Mahdi is the messiah prophesied to come at the time of last judgment, to save mankind and also the world.

With this, the four men will have to face the charge at the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court.

Justice Hanipah Farikullah today dismissed their application for leave (permission) to challenge the charge.

The decision was made in her chambers.

According to senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan, who appeared for the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi), the court dismissed the application as there was an issue of jurisdiction.

He also said the court cannot grant prayers to challenge the investigative powers of the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department.

If they are dissatisfied with the charge they can file a private action by way of civil suit, added Shamsul.

Shamsul had at the last session told that the Attorney-General Chambers will be objecting to the application on the grounds of jurisdiction.

Malaysia has a dual judiciary system where matters related to Islam are handled by the syariah courts while civil disputes are decided in the civil courts.

Lawyer Tengku Azlina Tengku Ismail who appeared for the four Indonesians confirmed the decision.

Rahmat Abdullah Makki Almalik, Kharmain, Cut Wardah and Ismelda Harfianti Lubis, named Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, Jawi prosecutors and the Malaysian government as respondents.

They, however, dropped the minister as a respondent in the judicial review application.

The accused, who are between 38 and 55-years-old, are charged under Section 6(a) of the Federal Territory Syariah Criminal Offences Act with making a false claim of declaring another person as a prophet, Imam Mahdi or Wali at the Jawi prosecution office.

If convicted, they stand to face a fine of RM5,000 or face three years' jail. However, it is understood all four of them have left the country.

According to the affidavit in support of Rahmat, they were arrested by Jawi after paying a visit to Federal Territory mufti Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri.

The four were seeking leave for a certiorari order to quash their detention, arrest, and charge by the syariah chief prosecutor, damages for wrongful prosecution to be assessed by the court, and other relief deemed fit by the court.

They further claimed that the syariah chief prosecutor and the senior prosecutor were wrong to charge them for declaring  Zubir as Imam Mahdi and that Jawi was wrong in not providing an Indonesian translator during the investigation on them. They further said that they were wrongly prosecuted.