The daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi took to Instagram to lash out at her critics who have been questioning her "Dato" title.

Through the social media app, Dato' Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, 36, denied the allegation by several quarters that her Datukship was conferred due to her participation as ‘Parade Commander’ in a Territorial Army event.

“I’ve been denied my freedom of speech, however I still hereby deny that I have never made any statement to suggest that my Datukship was conferred due to my participation as ‘Parade Commander’ in a Territorial Army event,” she wrote.

According to Nurulhidayah, the title was for her contribution as Corporate Communication head at Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad.

She also said a Datukship was not necessary limited to a person’s contribution to a particular state, but a gift from the Sultan to whomever His Royal Highness wished to bestow.

Nurulhidayah, a Territorial Army lieutenant, also stressed that she would never demean the pride of the Territorial Army, which she has very high regards for.

“The Datukship is merely a worldly title; what will carry us in the afterlife are the rewards for the good deeds that we’ve done in our lifetime.

“It is only there (the afterlife) that our degree lies eternal.

“To those who have been slandering me, I will be waiting in Allah's court,” she said.

Prior to this, Nurulhidayah had incurred the wrath of netizens when she slammed Bersih 4 in a Facebook posting, describing the rally as “stupid”.