There is no justifying retaliation against a child

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 – The attacks and what some are calling online abuse or cyber-bullying against the 9-year-old granddaughter of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has become a divisive issue among Pakatan Harapan supporters.

Though there is agreement that the mother, Nurulhidayah, is to blame for allowing her daughter to be put on the spotlight by making her issue a statement over Zahid’s arrest and charge last week and posting it on social media, the abuse the girl has received is uncalled for.

Whatever said and done, some people have gone too far. Blame the parents, blame Zahid all we want. But let’s be sensible and stop the bullying of the girl.

She doesn’t know anything other than what her parents and her relatives are telling her. And even if anyone would have, no matter the evidence in front of her, it’s her grandpa.

This is what Zahid’s granddaughter said: “You can lock my grandpa up, but not his soul and his fighting spirit. We are his family and we’ll never stop praying for him. I will make your life un-peaceful. I will make you regret your life. Remember – I am only 9-years-old and I am my country’s future,” she said while rallying support for the former deputy prime minister.”

Don’t be like the bully that Zahid is

Anyone in her position would be biased. It’s not normal to not be biased when your family is being attacked. Regardless of whether the family is at fault or not.

We all need our avenues to let off our frustrations but let’s not show this child that we are bullies. We are certainly not like her grandpa, after all.

Furthermore, the Bersih rallies had previously been criticised by those on the other side of exploiting children too.

Young children exploited at Bersih rallies?

Images of young children holding signs with rude messages against the previous Barisan Nasional government have now reemerged to make the point that Bersih rally participants had no reservation in putting their children in the “line of fire”.

Some are harping on the words “un-peaceful” saying it amounts to a threat, and that she has some influence being the granddaughter of the former deputy prime minister.

But seriously folks? We are afraid of a 9-year-old making threats now?

On the other hand, she too, like the children in these photos posted on social media of a Bersih rally, has a right to speak up and voice her opinion, as biased as it may be.

Let the law takes its course as far as Zahid and his fellow Umno leaders are concerned.

More importantly, let us all be the Malaysians we want to be for the New Malaysia we have ushered in after the 14th general election.

–  NMT