'Ras Adiba asked 'quietly' to speak to Zahid to continue service for two posts' - Nurulhidayah

SHAH ALAM - Umno Wanita exco member Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid claims former Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi asked for her help to continue her contract as a Dewan Negara Senator and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman.

Nurulhidayah claimed Ras Adiba asked her to 'quietly speak' to her father, who is Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on the matter.

She hopes Ras Adiba's decision to join Bersatu was because both posts were not being continued by the government.

"I am an open person. I hope Kak Deeb's (Ras Adiba's) decision was not due to the issue of her senatorial term and Bernama chairman post not being continued.

"I would like to openly state Kak Deeb had asked for my help to 'quietly speak' to the deputy prime minister (Zahid) about her term as a Senator in Dewan Negara and Bernama chairman post to be continued.

"I told him about her intention, but the decision did not solely lie with the deputy prime minister. Everyone should respect it and not meddle in administrative affairs," she said in an Instagram post.

The Umno president's eldest daughter, in the post, said she was surprised by Ras Adiba's involvement in Bersatu.

She said that in the 2023 Umno General Assembly, as the Skuad Sayang NGO Commissioner, she suggested that Ras Adiba be raised as an icon in the Umno Skuad Sayang Wanita Hi-Tea Award Ceremony, despite some feeling uneasy about the decision.

"I have my reasons to appoint her as the award recipient due to her involvement in person with disabilities (PWD) non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that would help the Umno Wanita NGO care further for PWD.

"She agreed to receive the award, and it was out of my control and knowledge; she openly and officially joined Bersatu," she said.

Nurulhidayah, however, wished good luck to the former journalist and television host at the new party she joined.

Ras Adiba Radzi was sworn in as a senator on May 20, 2020, and appointed as Bernama chairman on Nov 24, 2020.