'It took me 20 years to convince 'abah' that I was ready for politics' - Nurulhidayah

BAGAN DATUK - Running for Bagan Datuk Umno Wanita chief is no easy task for Umno president's daughter, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid.

Admitting the challenges she faced as a first-time candidate, Nurulhidayah remained high-spirited even though she was not given an easy path being the daughter of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Bagan Datuk Umno chief.

She decided to jump into the political arena with the intention to directly help his father in the Bagan Datuk Umno division.

"It took me 20 years to persuade and convince my father that his daughter is ready to be in the political world.

"I understand him as a father, as I am also a mother. No parent would want their child to experience the same hardship.

"Despite understanding the challenge, I chose to be with him in the politics, especially in Bagan Datuk, because I have the intention and ambition to develop Bagan Datuk," she told reporters when they met at Wisma Bagan Datuk Umno here today.

Nurulhidayah said her presence in Bagan Datuk has brought great hope for the Wanita wing to mobilize more actively and work closely with Umno at the central level.

She explained that Bagan Datuk Umno Wanita members possess great potential to be leaders at the central level.

"I am not stressed out; I am proud to carry the name of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Coincidentally, I am competing for the Bagan Datuk Umno Wanita chief post, and I was not given any advantages or an easy path to win.

"I have to face a three-cornered fight at Bagan Datuk, so there is no advantage for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's daughter. I am the same as anyone else," she said.

Bagan Datuk Umno Wanita election will witness a three-cornered fight between Nurulhidayah, the incumbent Zarozatin Isa, and Halimah Mohd Noor.

In addition to contesting at the divisional level, Nurulhidayah will also be running for the central Umno Wanita exco post.