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New Kedah MB's daughter defends 'sleepyhead' dad
Published:  Feb 4, 2016 3:36 PM
Updated: 8:03 AM

"The 'sleepyhead' that is being verbally abused and insulted is my one and only dad and yes I am proud of him," reads a social media posting claimed to be by the youngest daughter of newly-minted Kedah MB Ahmad Bashah Mohd Hanapiah.

'Azira Hafiza Ahmad Bashah' said this in the posting which was reproduced in full by pro-Umno website MyKMU.

The young lady leapt to her father's defence amidst criticism of him being only an SRP-holder and allegedly prone to falling asleep during official functions.

This has led to Bashah becoming the butt of jokes among opposition supporters and his detractors. Bashah became menteri besar after he led a group of Kedah Umno rebels to oust his predecessor Mukhriz Mahathir.

In her scathing reference to a video and picture being circulated of Bashah apparently falling asleep during a recent official function, she castigated those responsible and said they should be punished for slander.

Azira also defended her father's lack of tertiary qualifications, revealing that he had to give up furthering his education for good reasons.

"Yes, my dad has no high qualifications. No Master's, no PhD, neither a diploma, overseas degree or even by a motivator or professional trainer.

“It was because he had to take on the task of being the father in his family when his own dad passed away. He sold chicken eggs, worked as lorry attendant, you name it," said the daughter.

While she admitted that academic qualifications were important, she also questioned the use of a high education and political success if their results were obtained by plagiarisation.

"And when they got caught they blame others," she added.

Azira pointed out that her father started in politics from the bottom, when still in his 20s, and did not use his family's influence to get to where he was today.

This was an obvious dig at Mukhriz, who has long been seen as a proxy for his famous father, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

'Use decent language'

"My dad did not buy degrees, or a Master's or a PhD just to satisfy others who only look at qualifications. It is only that he can't selfie, tweet, or post his achievements on Facebook," continued the young lady.

Azira noted that no one had bothered about her father's qualifications or lack thereof when he was picked as state Umno chief during PAS' rule in Kedah.

She said that no one knew of the suffering he and the Kedah Umno machinery went through after their defeat in the 12th general election and how he had to struggle to bring the party back from the brink.

However, when BN retook Kedah in the last election, another leader who had earlier washed his hands of the state party was appointed to lead the new state government.

Azira said that while she respected those that can come up with intellectual and cogent arguments when criticising her father, they should not use abusive language and insults.

"Use decent language. Is that too hard? It's just that I fear some of them may be struck by lightning if Allah decided to pay cash (for their transgressions). Even though now is not the rainy season," she said.

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