KUALA LUMPUR: The daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi attributed his "Hidup Israel" blunder to his back-to-back programmes during a rally last Sunday.
Bagan Datuk Umno information chief Nurulhidayah said her father has already admitted his error happened due to his passion to call for the freedom of Palestine.
She said Zahid's demanding schedule, with consecutive events as a party leader, likely contributed to the error.
"My opinion is that his back-to-back programmes as party president were the main factor behind his error.
"However, such mistakes are unacceptable for a top party leader, regardless of the circumstances.
"I am confident that he remains steadfast in his commitment to the unity government's efforts to free Palestine from oppression," she said in a posting on Instagram.
Nurulhidayah said Zahid had attended the rally in Bukit Jalil straight after launching the Klang Umno division meeting and was, prior to that, on the Nenggiri state by-election campaign trail in Kelantan.
Yesterday, Zahid apologised for mistakenly chanting "Hidup Israel" at the Palestine solidarity rally on Sunday.
In a statement on Facebook, Zahid said his support for the Palestinian cause remained fervent.