Speaking to The Star Online yesterday, Abu Zarin Hussin, 31, said he was shocked and disappointed that pictures he posted on Facebook of himself and his pet snake, had been used to spin a story of him having married the reptile.
“The pictures are of me. They used my photos and started making up stories, saying that I married a snake,” he said.
“I just want to express my disappointment over the attitude of a handful of foreign journalists who acted in clear violation of journalistic ethics in publishing the news, especially since the pictures were clearly taken from my Facebook account,” he told the English daily.
Attached to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department in Temerloh, Abu Zarin conducts snake catching and training classes for firemen and explained that he regularly kept pet snakes in a bid to understand their nature better.
“The snakes are with me so that I can observe their behaviour. Catching snakes are part of a fireman’s duty.
“I am training other firemen how to handle and manage snakes. So that after they are caught, we can release them back into their natural habitat,” he said explaining he had begun training with snakes in 2007.
He also said he regularly documented his encounters with the snakes on the Facebook page Wira Penyelamat.
In the article in UK’s Daily Mirror published on Nov 10, Abu Zarin, who’s name was not released, was described as a heartbroken boyfriend whose girlfriend died five ago.
The article said he decided to marry a 10-foot long cobra after he realised the reptile bore a “striking resemblance” to his dearly departed.
Several pictures of Abu Zarin and the reptile accompanied the outlandish story and detailed how the two did everything together like any normal married couple would. This included watching television, sitting by the lake, playing board games and even going to the gym for workouts.