Imam blames shoe-throwing outburst on former Mat Rempit life

By Yow Hong Chieh

February 25, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — Imam Hoslan Hussin, who in a fit of rage threw shoes at a panel of judges on Wednesday, has blamed his outburst on his former life as a Mat Rempit.

Hossin told The Malay Mail he first took off and threw his left shoe at the Federal Court judges and managed to launch the other shoe before he was restrained by police.

File photo of Muntazer al-Zaidi (right) reacting as a shoe is thrown at him during a news conference in Paris on December 1, 2009. Zaidi, an Iraqi reporter imprisoned for throwing his shoes at US President George W. Bush, found himself on the receiving end of a similar footwear attack in Paris. The attacker was an exiled Iraqi journalist who spoke in defence of US policy. — Reuters pic

“I blame my hot-tempered persona on my former life. In the ‘80s, I was an illegal street racer. But that life is no more,” he told the daily on Thursday.

Hoslan hurled his shoes at three senior judges in the country’s highest court after they struck out his bid to challenge an eviction order from a Kuala Lumpur mosque four years ago.

The father of 11 stunned judges, lawyers and members of the public who packed a courtroom at the Federal Court when he stood up, took off his shoes and aimed the pair directly at the Bench.

The three-man Bench comprising Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin, Datuk Suriyadi Halim Omar and Datin Paduka Zaleha Zahari then unexpectedly allowed the incident to go unpunished.

The court, however, later lodged a police report about the irate imam and refuted that it had denied Hoslan the right to be heard fairly.

Hoslan explained to The Malay Mail that he was angry and disappointed that his appeal had been rejected by the judges who allegedly did not bother to read his submission.

But he said he immediately realised his actions were a “huge mistake” as he could have been charged with contempt of court.

“However, I have no regrets. The damage is done and I will not back down,” he said.

“After the court was adjourned, and the judges and lawyers left the room, I decided to pray there to ease my anger. After that, the police asked me politely to leave and I obliged. I walked barefoot to my van, accompanied by my wife and seven children.

He added that his shoes — green imitation Crocs — could stay in court as a “symbol” of his fight against an allegedly corrupt mosque committee.

“The shoes can stay in the court, they can even frame it up for all I care... I had no intention of throwing the shoes at the judges but at the time, they were the only thing that I could find and use to vent my anger.

“I am defenceless. For so long, no lawyers were willing to defend me or take my case as they deemed it too complicated. With nothing left, I am on my own,” he said.