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Chief Justice Ariffin Zakaria should intervene against the harsh and excessive one-year jail sentence imposed on imam Hoslan Hussein for throwing his shoes at the Federal Court judges

For the past few days, Malaysian sense of decency and propriety had been pulverised by a battery of blows which collectively signal that something is very rotten with the Najib administration which is marking its third anniversary next month, viz:

  • the one-year jail sentence by the Federal Court for contempt of court by imam Hoslan Hussein who flung his shoes at the three-man bench led by Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Zulkifli Ahmad Makinuddin on February 22;

  • Two years for the High Court judge to produce a 70-page judgment on the murder trial of Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was blown to bits with C4 explosives, which was totally unconcerned about the motive of the murder.

  • The denial of welfare aid and farming subsidies to disabled Sarawak farmer Frusis Lebi, 51, by Sarawak agriculture assistant minister Mong Dagang for supporting the opposition.

  • The unending revelations of the horrors of the RM250 million National Feedlot Centre “cow condo” scandal reaching far beyond the shores of Malaysia, with the latest allegations of purchase of properties not only in Singapore but also in Kazakhstan involving public funds specifically meant to promote greater beef self-sufficiency in the country.

  • Unconvincing denial by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the RM2.2 billion 50km Kidex (Kinrara-Damansara Expressway) concession had not been awarded to UMNO-linked firms as a reward for helping to accomplish Najib’s undemocratic, illegal and unconstituional power grab in Perak toppling the elected Pakatan State Government led by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin.

  • Another RM840 million government bailout for former Malaysian Airlines (MAS) chairman Tajudin Ramli, sombre reminder that Malaysians today are still paying for the RM100 billion losses caused by the financial scandals which dogged the 22 years of the Mahathir premiership.

These are only a partial list of the host of abuses of power, corruption, cronyism, lack of accountability, blatant injustices and sheer absence of good governance despite all the high-falutin talk and sloganeering by Najib since becoming Prime Minister three years ago of “1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now” and all the transformation programmes whether Government Transformation Programme (GTP), Economic Transformation Programme (ETP:), Political Transformation Programme (PTP), etc.

Will the voices of concern and outrage on all these issues felt and expressed by Malaysians be heard and heeded by the Prime Minister and the powers-that-be?

For a start, will the Chief Justice of Malaysia Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria intervene against the harsh and excessive penalty of one-year jail sentence handed down by the Federal Court yesterday against imam Hoslan Hussein for his shoe-throwing, tempering justice with mercy especially as:

  • the shoe-throwing happened more than a fortnight ago on Feb. 22 and was no more a direct contempt of court;

  • punitive action now by the same three Federal Court judges when they did not take action against him on the day in question reeks of conflict-of-interest and being unduly harsh and excessive, especially when compared to punishments meted out to more heinous crimes like corruption involving important political personalities in government.

Furthermore, will Najib intervene both as Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional Chairman to end the political victimisation and discrimination against disabled Sarawak farmer Frusis Lebi by restoring to him all welfare aid and farming subsidies?

If not, the issue will be highlighted in Parliament which reconvenes next week.

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21 Replies to “Chief Justice Ariffin Zakaria should intervene against the harsh and excessive one-year jail sentence imposed on imam Hoslan Hussein for throwing his shoes at the Federal Court judges”

  4. Umno is mean and evil. Umno punishes those who do not support it, including those who physically challenged. Umno must be thrown out for not knowing its true position in the country. Umno must be reject for failing to recognise that the people’s voice speaks louder.

    “ABU”

  5. I felt helpless!… anybody know CJ’s wife, what is her expertise?, anyhing like hi-way construction or cow breeding…. or maybe MRT building.

    The last life of defence is broken!… one by one, from Tun Salleh Sacking, to Tun Zaki, to motive of muder is not essential, to flying shoe …. from honour to nothingness..

  6. The Imam threw two shoes (a repeat offender?) so it is 6 months per shoe with deterrent thrown in.

    Else everyone will be into throwing shoes which goes against the 1Malaysian behaviour, Rukun Tetangga, Rukun Negara, Moral Studies and National Service.

    The Federal Court judges must have felt so important and high and mighty, and offended, that their sentence meted out must commensurate with their seniority and loss of face. Furthermore, not one but three judges were targeted and they had to run and hide.

    But let us also not forget the crude and disrespectful behaviour of this imam, the leader of his community, who should have known and behaved better. We can’t have his flock all learning how to throw shoes whenever they don’t like something and offending judges in courts of law (hopefully not for ‘defending their religion’), can we?

    In the final analysis, 12 months means 8 months if the imam prays diligently and is of good behaviour. Who knows, the man might do charitable and religious work while behind bars. Give him a chance.

  8. His act of throwing shoes at the court is by all counts “kurang ajar”. [In Middle East /Arab culture it is an ultimate insult to throw shoes. (The shoes are worn by the lowest part of one’s body)]. Yet there is disquiet amongst many Malaysians over his 1 yr jail sentence deemed manifestly harsh and unjust. Many are wiling to donate money to help his family whilst he’s in jail. Hoslan Hussein’s claims were to be believed – such claims can be checked and verified against- he will be an Malaysian icon against Corruption and Hypocrisy. The imam (who admitted being a Pas & Bersih supporter) claimed by his persistent complaints against corruption against some former members of his mosque committee JAWI vindicated his complaints by dismissing 11 committee members. He further claimed that the next batch of 4 appointed by Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (“MAIWP”) did not ameliorate the accountability issue amongst his committee members dominated, according to him, by UMNO members.

  9. Contiuning: The imam however claimed he has filed complaints with MACC, police FT Ministry and finally in 2009 with PM himself to no avail. He claimed those in committee uncomfortable with his demands for accountability have prevailed on MAIWP to issue him an eviction order an order evicting him from his house at the mosque compound. The subject of appeal before the Federal Court was the eviction order appealed against. The merits of the case were not deliberated. His case was dismissed on preliminary procedure point of his affidavit being filed out of time. He couldn’t control his frustrations and threw his shoes! If what he claims were true, this kurang ajar ordinary poor but honest man may well unwittingly turn himself to become a Malaysian icon against corruption, abuse of power and selective justice. The fact that he was treated without mercy makes him a suitable martyr. It is ironical that it takes him to do the wrong thing of throwing his shoes to galvanise the collective conscience of Malaysians to stand up against the bigger wrong things that ordinary and better mannered Malaysians have not thought necessary to stand up against at personal costs.

  10. Surely, the powers-that-be should in this election year receive the wake up call – of why this man who ought to be taught proper manners and decorum should so inexplicably get up a thumbs up, in spite of his uncouthness, as a champion freedom fighter from the many ordinary & otherwise disinterested observers of this extraordinary event! When he threw a shoe at the bench in apparent contempt, it is not just the bench but the bench as a symbolic reference point of the entire institutional and power structure of the State and Government that at least those many rising in his support are fed up off and who may feel that the contempt is even deserved, and his punishment disproportionately unjust and without compassion and mercy! The severity of the punishment then becomes another symbol of the lack of compassion / mercy for the ordinary men, reserved as it were, for the rich powerful and politically well connected that are protected by the institutional and power structure of the State….

  11. ///UPDATED2.09pm High Court has ordered Ling to enter his defence on charges of cheating the gov’t. ///–Malaysiakini

    Ling might be acquitted eventually, but the show must go on for now.

  12. It was certainly not a smart move to throw shoes though the intention is well appreciated by others outside the court. There are a few politicians who should have died and people would be clapping for their passing. But to kill them would earn a murder charge.

  17. And now ex CID Chief..Mat Zain shouting for justice ..pin pointing AG and Najib as the culprits choosing their own victims on Atlantuya murder case.
    His insults toward those two are fantastic…with legal points put out so clear.

  18. A school in Pekan is having a fund-raising FUNFARE, lots of game stores n 1 of them is 4 RM1, U will have 3 chances 2 THROW a SHOE or SLIPPER at d EFFIGIES of local judges n politicians, MPs included; strike 1 of them n win a great prize, a COWdominium

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