YOURSAY ‘Honesty has no place here. Speak the truth and you will penalised.’

RMAF pilot faces trial over indelible ink report

Dont Just Talk: For being honest and by lodging a police report that the indelible ink used by the Election Commission on polling day was not permanent, Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officer Major Zaidi Ahmad was relieved of his post as the commanding officer of 12 Squadron and now faces five charges.

What type of democracy and justice are civil servants in Malaysia encountering? Does it mean that they must remain mute and continue voting for the corrupt government, against their conscience?

Tholu: An offence of non-compliance of an order from a superior in the military force could only mean an offence in relation to the operation and functioning of the military in protecting the country from foreign armed intrusion.

It therefore puzzles me how an air force pilot’s ‘disobedience’ to a request such as not to highlight and publicise the delible nature of the ‘indelible’ ink could amount to an offence under the Armed Forces Act? I wonder how it could jeopardise the security and peace of the nation?

Does it mean that if a superior in the Army commands a lower ranking officer not to marry the girl he had vowed to marry but the officer nevertheless ties the nuptial knot, would it amount to non-compliance to a superior’s order?

There surely must be an implied (if not express) demarcation between commands related to the smooth and efficient execution of military duties and friendly request not related to military functions to avoid arbitrary interpretations of the word ‘command’.

CiViC: This means that if a superior tells you to jump off the cliff, you have only two choices, one, to jump off and die, or two, to face trial and be jailed. Bravo. Democracy at its best.

MfM: Anyway, the big question here is, does the Armed Forces Act overrule fundamental liberties granted to all citizens under the federal constitution?

His case should be taken to the High Court as such constitutional liberties. including having the right to make a police report against alleged fraudulent conduct of government officers, is a right that cannot and should not be denied, even if he is an officer in the Armed Forces.

Fundamental rights cannot be denied, even for those serving in the military.

Ratbatblue: Zaidi, stand firm for the truth and the values you believe in, because nobody can take away your beliefs and change your mind once you have a firm conviction.

You did the honourable thing and reported an incident. The very fact that you, the plaintiff, have now become the accused of sorts shows what a state of lawlessness we are in.

However, stand up for your rights and do not fear any threats or intimidation. You must be commended again and again for being a true Malay/Muslim (in this country everything boils down to race and religion, but what the heck, if it were for a good cause, why not?) for having the gumption (which unfortunately very few of your compatriots have at present) to question an obvious injustice/wrong being done.

I pray and hope that more and more will stand up for their rights and that this will open the eyes of others, the silent majority to witness all the wrongs being perpetrated by an extreme minority.

WDA: Major Zaidi should be lauded and probably bestowed with a medal for bravery for his actions to hold high the very principles of democracy this country is built on.

Instead he is being dragged shamefully to a military court to defend his heroic act. This ‘perwira’ did the right thing when he witnessed injustice first hand.

The military may want to punish him to make him as an example to others so that they will always toe the line.

However, this silly and unnecessary response from the RMAF may backfire because his fellow ‘perwiras’ are going to rally behind their compatriot either in open or in secret.

Anonymous #41821454: This Umno-BN government is a big bully. We pay our taxes to them and get bullied by them, we will go to jail for crying out our dissatisfaction over price hikes, and for our opinion of their wrongdoings. What can we do to change all these? The only thing is to vote them out.

I don’t understand why there are still so many people who still prefer them to be government. If this BN government does not go, we the rakyat will suffer and so will our future generations.

MacMac: Honesty has no place in Malaysia. Speak the truth and you will penalised.

Hold Awam Accountable: This is yet another blatant example of the injustice and corruption blighting our nation.

Major Zaidi deserves the support of every right-thinking Malaysian who believes in rule of law, democracy and upholding our constitutional rights.

P Dev Anand Pillai: If honest and decent soldiers like Major Zaidi are made scapegoats by their superiors just because the armed forces are supposed to cover up for the federal government, then we have very little hope to have a professional and neutral armed forces.

To all soldiers out there, stop being used as dumb oxen and mules, start speaking up and make the people proud of you as our armed forces.

Peacemaker: Has the Air Force also fallen victim to the ills of the judiciary and Charlie-cartoon decision-making. The truth has already been admitted by the Election Commission that the indelible ink which could be washed off was actually food colouring.

So what the hell is the judge advocate going to do? Is he going to convict the pilot for telling the truth in his report? Somebody please get this pilot a decent lawyer.

Meor Kamil: Only in Malaysia are you found guilty and have to go to jail for doing the correct and right thing.

Oriole: Superior officers are clearly not infallible. At what point does an order cross all boundaries of reasonableness and good sense?

If an order issued is clearly in violation of ethics and principles? If an order violates natural justice? Is the subordinate duty bound to obey? Or does he heed conscience, decency and good sense?

YF: Major Zaidi is an officer in the prestigious RMAF. How can he stand by his men if he is not a role model for them?

Major Zaidi is a Malay. How can he face his ancestors if he betrays ‘adat Melayu’?

Major Zaidi is a Muslim. How can he stand before Allah and say he is a believer of Allah and the Quran?

Major Zaidi is a family man. How can he stand before his family and say he is doing what is best for them and their future?

Major Zaidi is a Malaysian. That is why the rakyat stands by him - always.

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