The man, who was later identified as Shabir Ahmad Khan, yesterday slapped the 37-year-old Imam at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
"The man was an Indian national from Kashmir and had walked to the front and tried to shove the Imam Mohd Zuhairee," the Royal Malaysian police said.
"After that, the suspect went straight to the complainant (Imam) and pushed him from his place and tried to take the microphone that he was using.
"The suspect later slapped the complainant once and immediately took the Imam's spot to lead the prayer," police said.
It was not clear what triggered the man to attack the Imam. According to police, preliminary investigation found that the suspect was of unsound mind as he was seen speaking to himself.
The incident momentarily halted the Friday prayers which were resumed shortly after the suspect was escorted away, police said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
