Zaid defends remarks over AirAsia X pilot's actions

PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (pix) has defended his comments against the AirAsia pilot who had called on passengers to pray during its troubled flight on Sunday.
"To the chairman of AirAsia, my point here is not whether it is wrong to seek divine intervention but whether the pilot's call for passengers to pray for such is reasonable or not," the DAP member stated in his blogpost, today.
Zaid reiterated that the pilot did not need to ask passengers to pray because such action could be construed as a situation that is beyond salvation.
"It can also be pointed out that he (the AirAsia pilot) had no confidence in overcoming the problem at that time. When a pilot asks his passengers to pray, what would be the feeling behind the cockpit?
"The passengers would not know much in that situation, and can only expect pilots to give them confidence and guidance.
"Is it not the job and the task of the pilot to give hope and confidence to the passengers and do anything to save the plane? (The thought) of death must never cross his mind. That's what we expect from AirAsia's pilots," he said.
The former Kota Baru MP also slammed Pasir Mas MP Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz for criticising him on his Facebook account over his remarks.
"There are also many Muslims who have criticised me because of my statement. Those who admonish me also do not understand what I'm trying to say.
"Nik Mohamad Abduh and his supporters say I forbid prayers or do not want to pray. That is completely false. I always pray and not only during emergencies.
"When the engine of the plane is shaking or in trouble, I believe all passengers have prayed in their own way at that time. There is no need for a pilot to add to their anxiety.
"Passengers who think they are about to die already would be praying by themselves, and Nik Abduh himself acknowledges that it is 'human nature'," he said.
His response came after Nik Mohamad Abduh had rebuked him for his remarks over an incident three days ago in which AirAsia X flight D7237 was forced to turn back to Perth after experiencing difficulties with one of its engines.
AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said critics were unfair in blaming the captain for urging passengers onboard to pray for their safety during the incident.
Zaid had criticised the pilot for urging the passengers to pray. In a series of Twitter remarks on Sunday, Zaid said the low-cost carrier should not endorse such actions by the pilot.
"AirAsia X pilot urged passengers to pray on distress Perth flight. Good lord, I much prefer pilot don't tell me death is imminent.
"Pilot has to give hope, and leave the rest to God and the passengers. If AirAsia are big into prayers; engage proper Iman and priest," he tweeted.
The AirAsia X flight with 359 people onboard was forced back to Perth on Sunday morning due to a technical problem, with one passenger saying the plane was "shaking like a washing machine".