Loyalty to the King and Country

by drrafick

1. I was appalled by the reaction of the AF Chief over the vote manipulation by the serviceman in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). The Armed Forces chief had described those claiming that its rank-and-file had been involved in electoral fraud as an act of betrayal. To me, this is the face of a man who has shown nothing but disloyalty to King and the country.
   

2. Are the allegations that surfaced lately true? I am not from the rank and file. As an officer who formerly served in the AF, I say it clearly that it is true. My own ballot paper was marked by a corporal in Mindef during the 1999 GE. If my words are not good enough, please ask the honorable Brig-general at mind no evil blog. To me anyone that manipulates the voting system in this country is treacherous. The one who ordered the lower rank personnel are a bigger traitor. A general who comes on TV and says it did not happen is clearly nothing more than a political pawn.
   

3. I would give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he never had opportunity to be involved in the vote rigging. Therefore I can say that he made a statement based on his own experience. However, I expect a serving General to come to the fore and says that he is not sure about it in the past(because he was at a lower rank back then and was not aware of the scam) but while he is holding the fort he will ensure that it will not happen. That is my expectation from this man and not calling those who had declared what they did as traitors.
   

4. To me these ex serviceman are heroes. They said what they did in the past. I understand the predicament of being an “other rank”. My father was one and so were his father and grandfather. When given orders whether it is right or wrong they do not question them because they are trained as such. Refusal to follow orders will be dealt with swiftly. Only in that manner discipline and esprit de corps are maintained. If it is not done in that manner, all hell will break lose. For that I understand what they did and why they did it.
   

5. These whistle blowers are defending the honor of the country. A vote is the most important and basic right of any citizen and anyone who manipulates other people’s right to vote are the real traitor. I am saddened that our AF Chief has decided to play politics. It would have been better for them to come out with a strong statement that they will ensure that no such thing will happen while they are the chiefs instead of golfing on the course and defended a weak institution like the EC and morally corrupt political party.