KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin has apologised to Veveonah Mosibin for a statement he made about the student in the Dewan Negara on Thursday.
In a Facebook post last night, Zahidi apologised for his "inaccurate" comment, and said he will issue a correction in the Dewan Negara on Monday.
While answering an additional question from Senator Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin, Zahidi alleged that Veveonah had pretended to take a university exam on a tree to popularise her YouTube channel.
"Referring to the debate in Dewan Negara earlier (on Thursday), I would like to correct the statement I made about Veveonah Mosibin that she did not sit for any exam when a video showing her on a tree had gone viral on social media.
"I had received inaccurate information when responding to the supplementary question. I want to apologise to Veveonah Mosibin and will make a correction in Dewan Negara on Monday.
"I wish Veveonah Mosibin will continue to succeed in every field she ventures into," he said.
Meanwhile, Zahidi has been slammed by Wanita MCA Sabah chairperson, Dr Pamela Yong.
"I am ashamed that our learned YBTM (Yang-Berhormat Timbalan Menteri) cannot see Veveonah's true purpose, which was highlighting the poor digital infrastructure and inter-connectivity in Sabah. To me, if the video went viral, that's just a bonus.
"Would the government have taken action if Veveonah had walked into any internet service company to complain?
"Would that filed complaint have even reached your office at the Communications and Multimedia Ministry?
"Would it even have reached the eyes of those who made decisions at MCMC, spurring action to devise plans for a telecommunications tower in Kampung Bilangau Kecil, Pitas, as Veveonah did?" she asked.
In June, Veveonah, 18, made headlines after a video of her climbing a tree to gain Internet access in order to sit for online exams during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) was shared on social media. The footage earned Veveonah the nickname 'tree girl'.
The plight of the University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student, from Kampung Sapatalang in Pitas, Sabah, even caught the attention of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) responded by pledging to improve Internet connection in the area by having a telecommunications tower built there by the middle of next year.