SHAH ALAM – Umno Women exco member Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid insists that her relationship with the party’s youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has never been personal, let alone hostile.
She said the matter was merely a form of advice rooted in concern, likening it to an elder sister guiding a younger sibling for the good of the party and its struggle.
“Unfortunately yesterday, Datuk Dr Akmal commented on a statement on his Facebook page that quoted its supposed context from a ‘source’, which was then shaped into a narrative as if there was conflict, friction or a dispute, an irresponsible act.
“This is not only unfair, but also reflects a writing culture that chases sensation rather than truth. Differences of opinion are natural, but twisting intentions and facts is an injustice in discourse.
“I am confident that Datuk Dr Akmal himself understands that in a struggle, we need honesty rather than mere echoes of applause. We need the courage to advise one another, not allow outsiders to determine our narrative,” she said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
She made the remarks while sharing photographs of a meeting with Akmal at the wedding reception of the Melaka Chief Minister’s daughter.
On Wednesday, a local news portal issued an apology for mistakenly naming Akmal as the individual who had issued a statement criticising Nurulhidayah, when it was in fact a post uploaded by a social media user and later shared by the Umno Youth chief on his Facebook page.
Nurulhidayah had been reported as advising Akmal following his outspoken remarks on the party’s direction.
She responded after the Merlimau assemblyman urged Umno to reassess its position in the Unity Government and suggested that Muafakat Nasional be revived.
While acknowledging that Akmal’s forthright approach was appropriate given his position as Umno Youth chief, Nurulhidayah at the same time reminded that the party does not belong to any particular individual.