Zahid’s daughter defends remark calling Bersih ‘stupid action’
The deputy prime minister's daughter, Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, today defended her earlier criticism against those who attended the Bersih 4 rally, saying that as a Malaysian citizen, she, too, has the right to speak out. In a series of posts on her Instagram account, Nurulhidayah hit out at her detractors, who had slammed her for calling Bersih supporters "stupid". "If I were snobbish or proud, I would not be friends with people I don't know," she said, referring to the many followers she had attained since her rant against the rally. "I am not your MP nor assemblyman. I am a Malaysian citizen who also has a right to speak up. I have only spoken up once compared with all of you who have loudly become God to punish others." Nurulhidayah, whose father is Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the deputy prime minister and home minister, said she had not even touched on race and religion but had merely questioned the "sanity" of those who slept on the streets to "state the truth". "I was misinterpreted when I said Bersih was something that is in vain and stupid. I was attacked personally. "But I will not keep quiet and will continue speaking up. Who am I beside Him? I am God's servant who will keep on speaking," she added. She said that she felt "responsible" in seeing some Malaysians being "dragged" to the streets and "get used", presumably by Bersih. Yesterday, Nurulhidayah said that the protests were "kerja bodoh" (stupid action), adding that it was more patriotic for Bersih supporters to join the army. "If you really want to defend the country, go and join the army, and patrol the borders. Go and join Ops Pasir (military patrol in east coast waters off Sabah), you can experience all kinds of operations. "Don't think that just because you're wearing yellow and that you got to be on papers and TV, you can be proud." She was criticised for the post, which had gone viral on social media. – September 1, 2015.
