Veveonah Mosibin, a Sabahan student who went viral recently now received slurs and criticism on social media against her.
Photo via Astro Awani
On Thursday (3 September), Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin wrongly accused her in the Dewan Rakyat of being a fraud, in which he said that she climbed a tree only to gain online popularity and YouTube views.
The “treetop girl” Veveonah said in her Facebook post that she was shocked and taken aback by all the negativity that she received.
Honestly, I felt really sad and disappointed with this. I really work hard for my online examination for the last few...
Posted by Veveonah Mosibin on Thursday, September 3, 2020
“I am sad and disappointed with this. I work hard for my examination for the past few months, and I never expected it to go viral. Now I am a viral topic again, but this time with negativity and bad comments hurled towards me and I don’t know how to deal with it,” she said in her Facebook post.
“It hurts. I do forgive the mistakes that people did to me, but I want to make this statement on behalf of myself. Thank you to all my friends and family who knows me and who still supports me,” she added.
According to Free Malaysia Today, in issuing an apology, Zahidi said that he had received “inaccurate information” on the matter.
“I want to correct what I said about Veveonah, that she had not actually sat for the exams and that she had shared a video showing her on the tree just to garner views for her YouTube channel,” he said in a Facebook posting.
Merujuk kepada perbahasan di Dewan Negara hari ini, saya ingin membetulkan kenyataan mengenai adik Veveonah Mosibin...
Posted by Zahidi Zainul Abidin on Thursday, September 3, 2020
“I would like to apologise to Veveonah Mosibin because I had received inaccurate information,” he added. Zahidi also said that he will rectify his statement when the Dewan Negara convenes next Monday.
Netizens took to social media, to voice their disappointment at his claims, and also how the Minister had avoided the bigger picture- that internet connectivity is still scarce in some parts of Malaysia.
What do you think about this issue?
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
