PARLIAMENT The punishment on ex-airman Major Zaidi Ahmad for talking to the media regarding the indelible ink during the general elections in 2013 was “light” compared to the maximum sentence accorded for his charge, the Defence Ministry said.

The ministry said so in a written answer in Parliament today in response to a question from Mohamad Imran Abd Hamid (PKR-Lumut) who asked if the punishment on Zaidi is in line with the offence committed.

Zaidi was discharged from the air force by the Military Court earlier this year after being found guilty of breaking Armed Forces regulations in talking to the media.

“The punishment on Major Zaidi is lighter compared to imprisonment and being meted a dishonourable discharge,” the ministry said.

The maximum penalty for the offence is two years in jail and dishonourable discharge.

He had spoken to the media about faulty indelible ink during the 13 th general election.

Electoral watchdog group Bersih rallied nationwide support for him, and yesterday handed over RM40,000 it collected in donations for the man whom it regards as a national hero.

The Election Commission conceded that the indelible ink used during GE13 was faulty because it could be rubbed off.