Former pilot Mejar Zaidi Ahmad has joined PAS as an active member, less than three months after being sacked by the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

“I joined the party in a ceremony last week. I have already received the membership certificate,” he told Malaysiakini today.

He said he joined the Islamist party over the others because he saw eye to eye with the party’s Islamic foundation.

“I believe in the principle of Islam that is upheld by the party staunchly in their objectives and principles,” Zaidi added.

He was inducted into PAS on March 29 in Kedah, where he was supposed to have received the membership certificate from party vice-president Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu.

Zaidi also doesn’t discount being an active player in politics, should the party decide he is a suitable candidate.

The former airman lost his job after a court martial found him guilty of revealing to media that the indelible ink used in the last general elections could be washed off.

Speaking at ceramahs

For now, however, his focus on is on spreading the word about current issues.

“I wouldn’t mind contesting but it depends on whether the party decides if they want to field me. However, now, I’m more interested in giving ceramahs to Malaysians. Tonight (for example), I’m giving a ceramah in Merbok, Kedah,” Zaidi said.

He explained that most of his speeches touch on national issues, as well as his area of interest - the country’s defence.

“My main concern is talking about what is happening in the country like GST, more specifically on defence which is my expertise.

“Our defense is very much lacking compared to many other countries out there. The government must buck up when it comes to our defense systems,” he said.

When asked to comment on the shaky state of the opposition coalition at the time he signed up to join PAS, Zaidi is convinced Pakatan will be able to weather out the current storm.

“This is all just temporary to influence the (outcome at the PAS) Muktamar which will be happening soon. They (Pakatan) will still be together at the end of the day and nothing will change,” said Zaidi.

Zaidi was discharged from the Air Force by a military court earlier this year after being found guilty of breaking Armed Forces regulations.

On Jan 12, the court martial’s five-member panel found Zaidi guilty of two counts of breaching military procedures for the press conference he held to prove the indelible ink used in the last general election could be washed off.