Sacked Major Zaidi can hold his head high
YOURSAY ‘Sad to see that in M’sia, speaking the truth is considered a huge offence.’
Wings clipped, major refuses to appeal
Negarawan: Major Zaidi Ahmad made the police report on the indelible ink in the capacity of a Malaysian citizen, not as an Air Force personnel.
The military court sentence is completely illogical and insensible. Any citizen could have made the same police report out of a sense of responsibility, and it certainly would not need any approval from the military council.
Zaidi's impeccable record of service and valour is something that all Malaysians should be proud of.
Why is the military punishing an exemplary and towering Malaysian?
The Election Commission should be investigated for possible elements of negligence and corruption, not Zaidi.
Perhaps all fairminded Malaysians should carry a placard bearing the words "I am Major Zaidi" as a mark of protest against injustice.
Liujinzhong: An Air Force pilot sacked for saying an ink was not indelible? How much the government spent on training this one man?
Pputeh: I fail to see the wrong Zaidi had committed. He did not reveal any secret regarding the Air Force or the government. All he did as a private citizen was to show his unhappiness of the voting process in the country.
In my mind, he exercised his right as a private citizen to voice his unhappiness of the ink and voting process. This is his god-given right as a citizen of the country.
Anonymous #59879079: It's better to be discharged even though dishonourably by dishonourable people rather than being in the employment of dishonourable people.
Don't worry Zaidi, pilots are in very short supply and the world is your oyster. There is life beyond Malaysia. You will feel a lot better being in the employment of honourable people.
Tell the Truth: Zaidi, the people of Malaysia support you for your act of courage when we compare the cowardice of your superiors for not having the guts to admit a wrong that had been done to the people of Malaysia.
Using frivolous laws to charge you is indeed inhuman when the whole nation is already aware of the indelible ink issue and crying out for justice.
How else did BN win the GE13? And prosecutor captain Ross Anuar Aripin, I really hope that one day you will be in Zaidi's shoes and someone else will call for a harder sentence. You have a heart of stone and you deserve what you ask for. What goes around, comes around,
Fairnessforall: Zaidi, no worries, with your experience, I am sure any country will snap you up. But it is sad to see that in Malaysia, speaking the truth is considered a huge offence. Shame on the corrupted military court. With this kind of attitude, Malaysia will surely go far down.
Tailek: Personally I think it is not a fair judgment. Zaidi, do not worry. You did the right thing as a loyal citizen of Malaysia.
Wear your dismissal from the Air Force like a badge of honour. I believe your fellow comrades in the Armed Forces know better.
MrM: I’m disappointed that Zaidi will not appeal. He has just limited the constitutional rights of his fellow soldiers by accepting the unjust court martial verdict.
We Malaysians must now come together to support Zaidi and help him get back on his feet. He served his country and his people, now we should repay him with gratitude.
Anonymous #97893788: It’s his personal information and not "official information" as stated in the charge.
So how can you convict someone who stands up for his personal liberty and freedom of speech under the constitution? He did not represent any official, he was only stating the fact on the ink.
Ipohcrite: Getting the sack just for breaking protocol for speaking out on something that is not even related to the Air Force but which concerns an individual's constitutional right?
Isn't that too harsh, as if to punish Zaidi with a vengeance when in fact the Air Force is the guilty party?
Why, if the same standards were fairly applied, all the top brass in the Air Force might have to be dismissed too.
Baiyuensheng: I don’t understand speaking out about the indelible ink has nothing to do with or related to the military whatsoever. He spoke out as a concerned citizen in an election. What is that got to do with the military? You mean if he farts he has to inform the military council?
Serious military crimes are like allowing antitank missile to be taken out from the barracks, or loss of a fighter engine from a secured area, or army personnel involving in Islamic State activities, etc. But voicing out indelible ink as a private citizen?
ExPJ: Meanwhile the Air Force radar operators who were asleep when MH370 flew over the northern border remain in their jobs and not prosecuted for dereliction of duty. Way to go Malaysia. We feel so safe.
SSDhaliwal: Do not fret, Zaidi, as you said and we agree with you wholeheartedly that you acted within your conscience and did the right thing. Any respectable commercial airline would be proud of having you as their airline captain.
Kee Thuan Chye: If we are looking for Malaysian heroes, Zaidi Ahmad is certainly one. Standing up for what one believes is right is not only noble; it seems to be a rare thing in Malaysia. Zaidi stands out as a shining example of fortitude and integrity.
There is much our scurrilous politicans can learn from him. To their shame. What's more, most of them carry titles like datuk, datuk seri and tan sri, even tun.
Anonymous_1408265047: It is not difficult to work out who has integrity in this case.
Democrat: The word ‘honour’ is not in the Malaysian government's dictionary. He loses everything after pointing out a stupid error by the EC and after having given the best part of his life to the nation.
Did he murder, rape, hurt, swindle, or accept bribes? No. There are so many politicians out there who should punished. Zaidi, I will continue calling you sir. I salute you sir.
Kilgore: Zaidi is and honourable man and a patriot. The Malaysian Armed Forces don't deserve him.
MrM: So basically the military court is saying that there is no such thing as personal liberty when you join the army? Do soldiers have to sign a document waiving their constitutional rights?
Malaysia Ku: "What is there to regret? I did the right thing," said Zaidi.
Could someone sponsor the printing of T-shirts with the first remark in the front, and the rhetorical answer at the back? It should be a hot seller.
Proceeds can go to Zaidi and others who stand up for what is right in a country where so much wrong have been inflicted on the innocent and those who stand up for justice.
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