Veveonah Mosibin, the young Sabahan girl who climbed a tree to receive internet connection for her online examinations, was praised and adored by many after her YouTube video went viral. The 18-year-old student then also received a scholarship from University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) following the publication of her video.
However, as it is usually the case, even while one is showered with positivity, there tends to be criticisms made. This time around the critical remarks were made by none other than the Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
Rakaman video pelajar UMS didakwa terpaksa panjat pokok untuk dapat capaian internet bagi menduduki peperiksaan secara dalam talian di Pitas, Sabah sebenarnya sekadar dilakukan hanya bertujuan hiburan dan menaikkan 'viewer' rancangan YouTubenya-Timbalan Menteri pic.twitter.com/HvuxU1SUOW
— Mohd Redzuan Abdul Manap (@redzuanNewsMPB) September 3, 2020
The Deputy Minister, who was speaking in the Dewan Negara, stated that Veveonah’s video was based on a false examination which she created in order to gain popularity. “The girl is a YouTuber. She didn’t have an exam, we already checked. Which means she is smart. Therefore, we should not so easily believe YouTubers and people who like to incite issues,” said Datuk Zahidi.
Veveonah responded to these remarks made by the Deputy Minister by posting a status on her Facebook account last night (3rd September). The YouTuber stated that she “felt really sad and disappointed” by the allegations made towards her.
Honestly, I felt really sad and disappointed with this. I really work hard for my online examination for the last few months. And I never expected to go viral too. This time, I’m viral again, but with some bad effects.
The 18-year-old went on to explain that she does not know how to deal with the backlash she has been receiving via social media. Veveonah appears to be very upset by these comments and claims that she did indeed work hard for her online examinations held in June this year. “I don’t know how to deal with negative (and) bad comments on social media. It hurts,” wrote Veveonah.
Veveonah concluded her Facebook post by stating that she forgives all the mistakes people have done to her, but she still feels the need to make a “fair statement” for herself. The trending Malaysian also thanked her family, friends, lecturers and fans for supporting her.
Netizens were quick to come to her defence and claimed that she is indeed their batch mate and that they sat for the exam together. “Please, don’t spread slander. She was one of my batchmates for Asasi UMS, she sat for online examinations just like the rest of us from the 10th to 12th of June 2020. She posted the video on the 13th of June 2020, so that means she did sit for the online examination,” said a Twitter user who shared the June 2020 exam timetable along with the statement.
https://twitter.com/crhxyan/status/1301457533337444352
Dah jadi Timbalan Menteri, suruhlah team kau verify dengan UMS. Lepas ni kalau UMS issue slip exam & Veveonah share raw file info which include dates, checkmate.
And, by the way, PRN Sabah is around the corner. Shafie Apdal will eat you alive with his rhetorics. https://t.co/iJrpLtVxDa
— KNB (@nizambakeri) September 3, 2020
Following this, the Deputy Minister later apologised to Veveonah by stating that he had “received inaccurate information.” His apology issued via Facebook read: “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.” Zahidi also added that he would officially rectify his statement when the Dewan Negara convenes next Monday.
The video of Veveonah climbing a tree to sit for her online exams was posted on 13th June 2020. The video shows how Vevenoah had initially built a small hut on top of a hill so that she can be in a high place in order to receive good internet connection for her online exams. However, at the start of the video Vevenoah discovered that her hut had been destroyed due to rain and strong winds, leaving her no choice but to camp on top of a tree.
After her video had gone viral, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) also took action by planning to erect a new telco tower in a nearby village, Kampung Sapatalang.
Source: Free Malaysia Today.
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