INTERVIEW Major Zaidi Ahmad is willing to put his life on the line for Malaysia should she go to war. But he will not remain silent over alleged fraudulent practices to safeguard the ruling coalition.

While he has sworn allegiance to the nation, the sacked Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) pilot stressed that this does not extend to being loyal to Umno.

"We swore allegiance to the country, not Umno. These are two different things," Zaidi told Malaysiakini in a recent interview.

He was referring to the the indelible ink fiasco during the last general election.

As for the majority of military personnel voting for BN, Zaidi had attributed this to indoctrination.

Military personnel, he said, are taught that loyalty to the government is equivalent to loyalty to the country.

And those who go against the system, like himself, are branded as unpatriotic.

"They are indoctrinated in various talks or (through the) media that loyalty to the country means loyalty to the ruling coalition.

"I was accused of not being loyal to the country, that I failed to abide by my pledge as a military man," he said.

Zaidi, who served with RMAF for 26 years, noted that an example of indoctrination, was the constant reminder that personnel should not "bite the hand that feeds them".

The air force instructor was last week sacked from the RMAF after a lengthy court martial.

Zaidi, after voting in the last general election, had lodged a police report after discovering that the Election Commission's (EC) indelible ink was delible.

His police report received widespread media attention, landing him in hot soup with the RMAF.

The military court found him guilty of speaking to the media without the Armed Forces Council's authorisation, and making public an RMAF letter on disciplinary action against him.

Breaking the indoctrination

Zaidi stressed that he would have no qualms abiding by the prime minister's command to fight in a war.

However, he said, that in peace time, military personnel should not merely nod their heads even if the government does wrong.

"If our country goes to war and the Parliament approves the decision, the military must abide by our leader who is our prime minister. It is wrong to refuse.

"But this is about the government doing something not right by cheating in the general election, that is wrong," he said.

Even though he is no longer with the military following his expulsion, Zaidi said he still hopes to change hearts and minds on this issue.

As such, Zaidi noted that he would be using his free time to hold talks in the hope of reaching out to military personnel.

"Many do not understand the concept of loyalty. If the ruling coalition cheats and we just follow, that is wrong.

"That is why my focus now is to go on roadshows or use any other platforms, be it political parties or otherwise (to explain the matter)," he added.

Zaidi had refused to appeal his sacking, citing bias against him.

The officer presiding over the trial had allegedly asked Zaidi to tap rubber if he was not interested in the air force.

A judicial review of the military court is pending before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

This interview was jointly conducted by Ahmad Fadli KC and Nigel Aw.