PETALING JAYA: Stop the verbal harassment against a nine-year-old girl who didn't know better - that's the message from politicians and activists after Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's granddaughter became a target of cyberbullying over a viral video of her defending him.

The video recording of the girl "warning" those responsible for her grandfather's arrest was first posted on her mother's Instagram page on Saturday (Oct 21).

It quickly went viral over several social media platforms, irking Malaysians who started hurling insulting comments directed at the girl.

In the comments section of one news portal that featured the video, readers made disparaging remarks against the nine-year-old.

The news portal removed the story soon after Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Hannah Yeoh tweeted it, saying that parents should protect their children instead of allowing such videos to float on the internet.

"I ask that we stop sharing the child's video. She is too young to understand what is going on and it is normal for kids to be attached to grandparents," Yeoh said.

"Adults should know better and not manipulate her emotions. The child is innocent," Yeoh said on Twitter Sunday (Oct 21).

Sharing Yeoh's sentiment, Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said: "by the same token, we each have to do our bit to reject bullying in any form whatsoever".

"Leave the child alone. Best to keep your nasties to yourself," she wrote on Twitter.

Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari said such negative comments against the girl, which was a form of cyberbullying, must be halted immediately.

Child rights activist Dr Hartini Zainudin also weighed in on the issue, and criticised those who justified attacking the girl just because they do not agree with her family's politics.

“You can’t have it both ways — be outraged when cyberbullying happens to one child and say it’s OK to do so because you don’t like her family’s politics! Lay off her! You have no right," she said.

On Friday (Oct 19), Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed trial to 45 charges of money-laundering involving RM72mil and criminal breach of trust and accepting bribes involving RM42mil.