‘It was just for drama,’ says Raja Bomoh over antics

He repents after his arrest and being charged in court for insulting Islam and causing people to have a negative perception of the religion.

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PETALING JAYA: “Raja Bomoh Sedunia” Ibrahim Mat Zin has claimed that all his eccentric antics before this was all pure drama.

“All of it was drama, the shaking of the bamboo sticks. I couldn’t see anything inside.

“I was told to shake the sticks. I took the coconuts as if they were bombs. I didn’t know what I did was wrong.”

He told a press conference today that he was sorry for his past misdeeds and he had repented for mocking Islam, Star Online reported.

Ibrahim, 66, promised not to repeat his antics which had drawn international attention as they were often carried out, with the help of assistants, during national crises in the presence of international media.

Ibrahim first drew attention in March 2014 when he conducted two rituals at KL International Airport to “locate” the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. He followed that up with another ceremony by the seaside near Malacca to “float” the aircraft.

In March, Ibrahim performed a ritual outside the Hospital Kuala Lumpur mortuary where foreign and local reporters had gathered to cover the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

He also performed a ritual, using his trademark coconuts and bamboo binoculars on a beach in Bagan Lalang, Negeri Sembilan, to “thwart” any efforts by North Korea to attack Malaysia with its missiles.

Ibrahim was charged in the Syariah Court on Tuesday after he was picked up by police at a Segamat hotel on April 21 over his ritual acts.

Ibrahim pleaded guilty to charges of insulting Islam and causing people to have a negative perception of the religion.

The press conference today was organised by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi).

Ibrahim claimed that he was instructed by an unidentified “someone” to conduct the rituals.

“When that person asked me to do it, I was the one who was at the receiving end.

“I slept at the Dang Wangi lock-up for two days and in Jinjang for three days. I have repented, I promise that I will stop all these rituals,” he said, also renouncing his “Raja Bomoh” title.

Jawi director Abd Aziz Jusoh said Ibrahim had been released on a good behaviour bond for six months.

His behaviour will be monitored by the Federal Territory mufti’s office. - FMT