KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, daughter to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has resigned from the SME Corporation’s board in a April 6 letter she shared on her Instagram last night.
The resignation letter was addressed to Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and her decision will take effect immediately.
In the post, she said she voluntarily left the post she was appointed to and valid positions chosen legitimately should be defended.
“Soalan saya, Siapa yang takda ‘telor’ sekarang? (My question is, ‘now who doesn’t have courage?’)
“Berani kerana benar.” (Brave because it is true).
While she did not make clear the reason behind her resignation, her father has been facing challenges to his leadership in Umno as well as external political conflicts.
Lately, Zahid has come under fire over a purportedly leaked phone conversation between himself and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Both have issued denials that it was them in the audio clip.
Nurulhidayah’s appointment to SME Corporation did not come without criticism. On January 5, she was reported as saying that she obtained the position through her own efforts and not through her father.
She had said she would contribute to the agency through her qualifications.
Wan Junaidi on January 4 appointed Nurulhidayah and Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (Acccim) chairman Koong Lin Loong to the board of SME Corporation.
SME Corporation operates under the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry to implement development programmes for small and medium businesses.
Nurulhidayah also made headlines last year for breaking movement control order standard operating procedures by leaving her home without permission or an acceptable reason.
She was fined RM800 and netizens slammed it as double standards practised by authorities, given that ordinary citizens faced stiffer penalties for the same offence.
On March 31, Pasir Puteh Umno chief Zawawi Othman resigned as chairman of Kesedar Kilang Sdn Bhd that is owned by Lembaga Kemajuan Kelantan Selatan.
He had said his decision was in line with the party withdrawing its support of the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition come the 15th general election. – The Vibes, April 10, 2021
