‘Parliament is not a family business,’ says UMNO Exco

Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, an Exco member of UMNO Wanita, has declared she will not contest a parliamentary seat as long as her father, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, remains a Member of Parliament. She firmly upholds the principle that "Parliament is not a family business."

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Father (Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) really does not want me to contest in Parliament, he said no, because father does not want people to think Parliament is a family business.

Nurulhidayah stated that her father explicitly does not want her to contest parliamentary seats, aiming to prevent perceptions of nepotism. "So, I must respect father as a father who has his own principles," she told Utusan Malaysia. She indicated that if she were to contest in the future, it would likely be at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) level.

Beyond personal political aspirations, Nurulhidayah emphasized the critical need to strengthen the Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery in preparation for upcoming elections. This call comes despite several party leaders currently facing legal challenges and investigations, which she acknowledged could temporarily hinder campaign efforts.

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So, I must respect father as a father who has his own principles. If I want to contest, perhaps I will go to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) level.

"There are issues, Royal Commission of Inquiry related to Lembaga Tabung Haji, 'sakau' (embezzlement), our leaders are being prosecuted, all these will cause our work to stop for a moment," she explained. She expressed hope that BN machinery would continue with their planned activities despite these setbacks, particularly with the Melaka State Election approaching.

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There are issues, Royal Commission of Inquiry related to Lembaga Tabung Haji, ‘sakau’ lah, pemimpin kita dikenakan tindakan, all these will cause our work to stop for a moment.

Nurulhidayah also reflected on the challenges faced by BN leaders since their defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14). She acknowledged that leaders at various levels, including the Supreme Council, Vice Presidents, Deputy President, and even the President, have endured significant difficulties. However, she remains confident that these experiences will not diminish the party's spirit to win back voter support in the 16th General Election (GE16).

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I am not saying this is a small matter, but I am confident it will not weaken UMNO's spirit to continue moving and win the hearts of the people in this GE16.