Hamidi, honestly, did you want to join the army? At least Obama did want to

When Rear Admiral (Rtd) K Thanabalasingam ascended to the position of the nation's first ever local chief of Navy, it would have never crossed his mind that his loyalty to the country would be questioned.

The former naval chief who spearheaded the Navy's mission to protect Malaysia from numerous threats that arose in the 1960s-1970s period, spoke in disbelief at Defence Minister Zahid Hamid's recent statement that patriotism among non-Malays was "not strong enough" for being reluctant to sign up with the Armed Forces.

Thanabalasingam (left) said when contacted by Malaysiakini, "I don't understand how such a statement came about... I've been through a lot, and I don't care who says it, it hurts me. I am a Malaysian born and bred, and I intend to die here." The 75-year-old veteran who retired in January 1977 after holding the top naval post for nine years and one month, stressed that there has never been a lack of patriotism among non-Malays in defending the nation from threats within, and without.

He recounted how the non-Malays along with their Malay brothers-in-arms, fought side-by-side regardless of whether they were in the navy, air force, army or police field force to push back the communist insurgency that spanned some three decades from the 1950s until it ended in 1989, and the perils they braved over the four years of the 1963-1966 Confrontation from Indonesia. Talk is cheap, Hamidi. Have you ever wanted to join the army? Remember, you may be a MP but you are a civilian just like us who elected you. So, shut up! At least, Barack Obama 'wanted to join US military'.