1-year jail for Imam Hoslan's shoe-throwing excessive and inappropriate - Surendran

I refer to the one-year jail sentence meted out to the shoe-throwing Imam Hoslan Hussain by the Federal Court today. The sentence is excessive and inappropriate.

The circumstances of this case required that justice should be tempered with mercy. This the Federal Court failed to do.

Further, contempt powers are exercised summarily and Imam Hoslan has no right of appeal. Imam Hoslan was unrepresented and very emotional when he committed the unfortunate act.

He is also a struggling father with 7 children whose case had been delayed since 1999. A stern reprimand or fine would have been adequate in this case.

Use moral authority and not bullying

The judiciary should guard their dignity by the strength of their moral authority, and not by imprisoning people.

The judiciary must also take a long hard look at themselves. Public confidence in the judiciary remains at a low level and the judiciary is partly responsible for this dismal state of affairs. Public perception is that the judiciary is not independent and that they have failed to safeguard the basic rights of Malaysians.This lack of confidence and respect can lead to a recurrence of incidents like the shoe-throwing case.

This state of the judiciary has mainly been caused by interference and abuse of power of successive BN governments. It is a cardinal aim of the Pakatan Rakyat to protect, preserve and restore the integrity and independence of our country's judiciary.

N Surendran is a vice president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat