Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s daughter Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid has been using her father’s positions to make people’s lives more convenient, she told a meeting with BN Youth volunteers in Penang last night.

Nurulhidayah cited an example where someone she knows would seek her help to obtain visas as it is expensive to bring maids to work in the country.

“I am not saying people should come to me now for help, but this is just one example of how I use my dad’s platform (as deputy prime minister and home minister) to help make people’s lives easier.

“I am just helping those who are in need, I do not ask for anything in return,” she told about 80 people, mostly women, who attended the two-hour session themed ‘Women in the House’ in Bandar Perda, Seberang Jaya.

“This is my responsibility, as Ahmad Zahid’s daughter, for I saw how difficult it was for him to arrive at the position he is in now,” Nurulhidayah ( photo ) added.

She said this during the question-and-answer session when asked about the services she had rendered to society, which led to her being conferred the title of ‘datuk’ by the Pahang royalty in April last year.

She was told there were many questions about how she obtained the honorific title and ‘Ikon Belia’ (Youth Icon) when she appeared on a TV show.

“Actually, we do not really care how you got the titles, but we need to know so we can back you up as the questions come not only from the opposition or the pro-opposition media, who say they are fair but are not fair, but we are also asked by those (in Umno) who do not support Najib’s leadership,” said a woman from the audience.

'I understand other people's hardship'

Nurulhidayah shot into fame when she described Bersih 4 protesters in the mammoth Aug 29-30 rally in Kuala Lumpur, as “stupid”, saying they should join the army to show their love for the country.

She explained that she understood other people’s hardship as her family too had humble beginnings.

She also said people who want to contribute to society do not need to wait for titles or positions to help others.

She is Ahmad Zahidi’s daughter, and was not born when he was a minister or deputy prime minister.

“We used to live in a rented house in Batu Caves when I was a child. My dad was the eldest of nine children, and at the end of the month, he had only RM50 in his pocket to feed me,” Nurulhidayah said.

“I’m not angry or sore with the criticisms hurled at me or the perception of those who do not know me,” she added.

Nurulhidayah said her family led normal lives although others may perceive them differently due to their appearances in the TV and newspapers.

She was raised to be friendly as her father hailed from a village in Bagan Datoh, Perak, and he was a son of an ustaz and a housewife.

“Wealth is not something we are born with. My father was not born a minister or deputy prime minister. Not all children of wealthy people have easy lives,” she reflected.

“Even when he joined politics, he asked permission to do so from my mother and us, his children,” Nurulhidayah said.

“To me, politics is always about helping others. The reason why I join the army volunteer group (Askar Wataniah) is to contribute to the country. I learnt a lot about life and responsibilities during the training,” she added.

“All these made me Nurulhidayah, Ahmad Zahid’s daughter.”