Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was arrested under the Internal Security Act in September 1998, some three weeks after the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim as deputy prime minister.

Zahid was then Umno Youth chief and a staunch supporter of Anwar, which placed him at loggerheads with then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In an interview with Sinar Harian , his daughter Nurulhidayah recalled the episode when speaking about her father's political career, which has seen him rise from a former ISA detainee to deputy prime minister in less than two decades.

"Abah (father) was arrested under the ISA for 10 days. He was arrested in Sabah. Imagine, I was only 18 then.

"My mother said if Abah is arrested for two weeks it would mean that he would be held in prison for two years, but Alhamdullilah (thank God), he was released.

"That too (after) mother wrote a letter to the then prime minister. Abah was freed in Kuala Lumpur; he was left on the highway with his eyes covered (blindfolded)," she said.

Nurulhidayah also revealed she had taken part in street protests during the Reformasi period, sparked off by Anwar's sacking.

'Sort out problems through negotiations'

However, she now believes that taking to the streets is not the best method to resolve problems, which should be sorted through negotiations instead.

She said this in response to the criticisms she received for being critical of Bersih 4, which, among others, demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Nurulhidayah said her remarks were based on her own experience of participating in street protests and therefore does not want others to walk down the same road.

"I was involved in demonstrations during the Reformasi era. I was only 20 then. I still remember how several leaders and I were hit with FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) water cannons because we were standing in the front row.

"My entire body was itching (due to the chemical-laced water)... With chants of ‘ Undur Mahathir ’ (Resign Mahathir), I was chased by the SB (Special Branch men) until my trousers tore because it got caught in a tree as I was running towards the Dayabumi complex.

"When I look back on this, I feel like I was made use of. That is why I said demonstrations are not relevant, because I have experienced that irrationality. So I don’t want the people to be irrational as well.

"I could have been the best student but because I was too busy with politics, I wasted a lot of time," she added.

Nurulhidayah said her father had no clue that she had done this, and added that she is now wiser after having learnt from past experiences.