SHAH ALAM - After Malaysian actress Zahnita Wilson posted allegations of domestic violence against her husband, their firstborn, Zahrafeena has come forward to share her perspective, backing her father’s side of the story.
Zahrafeena, 18 firmly refuted her mother’s claims, stating that her father, Abdul Zackery Ghouse Abdul Gafor had never been violent towards her mother or the family.
"I myself have never seen my father touch (physically harm) my mother. My father said it was not true, and what my mother posted about having a bruise and wearing spectacles to cover it wasn’t accurate.
"She didn’t have a bruise at the time she wore those spectacles. My father never touched (physically harm) my mother, my siblings, or myself—never," she said in an interview responding to Zahnita’s claims that she suffered from years of abuse during their 20-year marriage.
On Dec 2 last year, Zahnita shocked her fans with an Instagram post featuring a photo of her bruised face and a black eye.
The 39-year-old actress alleged the injuries were a result of an argument with her husband after confronting him about an alleged affair.
In her caption, she claimed that she could no longer stay silent and that the abuse had been ongoing for years.
This public disclosure reignited attention toward domestic violence cases in Malaysia, drawing both sympathy and scrutiny.
However, Zahrafeena’s statements have added a layer of complexity to the narrative where she revealed that she was surprised by her mother’s post.
"During that week, my mother was not at home and only contacted me a little. She seemed fine. Then suddenly, I went through my phone and saw the posting. I was really surprised," she said.
She also expressed the emotional toll the allegations have taken on her since she was in the midst of completing her final preparations for SPM.
"To be honest, I was disturbed. During December, I couldn’t focus on my studies because I kept thinking about what was happening—about my father, my siblings, my family. It’s been hard," she said.
Zahrafeena stated that her decision to live with her father was not influenced by anyone but was made independently.
"I wasn’t asked to stay with my father. I chose to because I think it’s more suitable for me" she added.
Despite the upheaval, Zahrafeena acknowledged the strain it has placed on her relationship with her mother.
"Our relationship has been strained since my dad was taken into lockup because I was really disappointed she did that to him. But I think, eventually, we can rebuild our relationship," she said.
Zahnita and Zackery married in 2005 and share four children. This isn’t the first time their marriage has faced public scrutiny. In 2013, Zahnita filed for divorce but the couple reconciled shortly after.
Speaking about the future, Zahrafeena seemed resigned to her parents potentially going their separate ways.
"If my parents choose a different path, I’m okay with that. It’s hard to forgive what has happened, and I understand if they don’t want to be together anymore. It’s probably for the best, especially for my younger siblings who have had to witness all this," she said.