What A Pity

Everyone knows that soldiers sometimes inflict their own kind of punishment for their own kind. Who are we to judge them? But the lines are drawn when third parties usually civilians are involved or the punishment is just part of a macho culture of a training camp.

Chicken shit is the best word to described such shenanigans at training camp. And that is the best word to describe the seniors of the Air Force Training College for bullying their juniors.

If they had come back from a bombing run, I will understand their actions but in peaceful Malaysia? Was the junior a playboy or showboat? Probably both. But neither deserved the treatment they inflicted on him.

For the perpetrators, the best punishment for them was for the Air Force to strip of their commission. Nothing less will be adequate. The reason? Conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman.

Unfortunately, the junior involved also have to forego his dream of flying with air force.

After what had happened, even though he is the victim, his position in the air force is untenable. By highlighting his woes, he had placed himself outside the code of the soldier. He did nothing wrong but those chicken shit had placed him in the predicament.

I pity him. The senior officers at the Training College are also liable, for not doing their job. Protecting the young and newbies.

From Bernama.

Culprits In Ragging Case May Face Expulsion, Says Najib GeneralFebruary 21, 2007 21:48 PM

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 21 (Bernama) — Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Wednesday warned those involved in the recent ragging of a trainee at the Air Force Training College in Kepala Batas, Alor Star, could face expulsion or court action.”If proven guilty, those who committed the offence will be severely punished,” said the Deputy Prime Minister when commenting on the case.According to police, Muhammad Hazim Ahmad Azman, 20,was allegedly forced to endure physical and mental torture at the hands of his seniors.The incidents were alleged to have happened since last September while the last one on Jan 27 at the trainees’ hostel at the compound of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF)’s Cadets Camp in Tanah Merah near Jitra, Kedah.Najib who is also Defence Minister said the ragging was opposed to other forms of discipline which must be respected by all cadets of the defence forces. (armed forces”While the incident may have been caused by arguments between two groups, it cannot be forgiven,” he told a news conference after witnessing the signing of a shipbuilding contract between Penang Shipbuilding and Construction Sdn Bhd and Gagasan Carriers Sdn Bhd, here.TV3 in its prime news at 8 pm last Monday broadcasted a video footage of the torture on Hazim, who was in his first year of pilot training there.Now in his second year, Hazim was allegedly slapped, kicked, punched, stepped on and made to crawl on his knuckles as part of the torture.The daily torture included being dunked in sewage and forced to gargle and wash his face with sewage water and drink urine.Najib said besides police investigations, the RMAF had also asked for a two-month deadline to wrap up the case, which was conducted by a board of inquiry set up after the incident.”And after that immediate action will be taken. And it’s all up to the police to take the necessary action. At the moment they (those believed to be involved) are under investigation,” he said.Asked what guarantee was there that such an appalling case would not recur, Najib said: “If they know we are firm about this and if we can show that we mean business, then I am sure that it will send a very strong signal.”– BERNAMA