"It is God's will. I accept it. There is nothing to be afraid of and I am not going to appeal," Zaidi, 45, told reporters today.
Asked what he would do next, he quipped, "Balik kampung motong getah (I'll go back to the village and be a rubber tapper)," in reference to a comment allegedly posted on an online article about his case by the military court's presiding officer.
Zaidi's counsel had tried to get the military panel hearing his case dissolved based on the presiding officer's alleged actions which were deemed biased and prejudicial.
Zaidi was today dismissed from the Royal Malaysian Air Force after 26 years of service for breaching two standing orders by giving a media statement without the consent of the Defence Ministry, and for leaking confidential information without the consent of the Armed Forces Council.
The contents of his media statement pertained to the indelible ink used in the general election which was found to wash off easily, thus allegedly compromising the integrity of the polls.
During the trial, Major Zaidi's lawyer Mohd Hanipa Maidin had brought to the court's attention a comment posted on an article in Malaysiakini titled "Peguam: Kesalahan Mejar Zaidi hanya kerana berani" (Lawyer: Major Zaidi charged for being courageous) published in its Bahasa Malaysia section on October 20.
A user with a Facebook account under the name Saadon Tson had commented, "klu tak nak jd tentera duk kampung motong getah je" (If you don't want to be in the military then stay in the village and tap rubber).
Alleging that the Facebook account belonged to presiding officer Col Saadon Hasnon, Hanipa had told the court, "Fairness has been compromised. Our client doesn't want the presiding officer on the case to stay".
Tapping rubber is considered a low-paying menial job although the commodity is one of Malaysia's main exports.
Major Zaidi, however, failed to get the court martial panel dissolved.
In delivering the sentence today, Col Saadon said the punishment to dismiss Major Zaidi from the service was made after considering his excellent record of service, as well as the loyalty and nationalism he had showed throughout his service with the air force.
"This is not because of the indelible ink case. This is because of the offence he committed in going against the two standing orders issued by the Air Force's higher authority," Col Saadon said today.
Major Zaidi when met after the sentence said that he will continue to serve with the force until he receives his discharge letter.
"Until then I will still be going to work as usual," he said, adding that he believed he was still entitled to his pension and other benefits, as the discharge was a normal dismissal.
The dismissal still needs to be confirmed and approved by the confirming officer before it is put into effect.
Major Zaidi's elder sister Roszi Ahmad also expressed supported for her brother.
"All of his siblings have been very supportive of him. Like he said, this is only dunia (earthly). Let's prepare for the judgement after life," said Roszi, who had attended all of Major Zaidi's court proceedings.
The air force major's wife, who was also present, said she had expected her husband's dismissal.
"It's Allah's rezeki," she said.
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