KUALA LUMPUR: The former finance minister wants Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to clarify why the ministry hosted officials from Afghanistan's Taliban-run government.
Lim Guan Eng, who is DAP national chairman, raised the matter as Afghanistan is known for its restrictive access to education for women and girls.
“The Education Ministry must explain to the public why they allowed such a visit from a country that has restricted its women and girls from having access to education at secondary and university levels.
“We have no (official) diplomatic relations with them. Why there is such a visit? The public must know, and the minister must explain,” he said in a press conference held at the Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 20).
When asked if DAP member Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh knew about the Afghanistan delegation visiting the ministry, Lim said Wong had yet to be informed of the matter.
On Nov 16, Fadhlina confirmed that her ministry hosted officials from the Afghanistan government earlier this month.
She elaborated the visit by officials from the Afghanistan ministry of education has concluded, adding that her ministry just shared insights on education with them.
It was reported that the Afghanistan delegation visited several schools and educational institutions during their week-long visit to Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in March last year that Malaysia is ready to cooperate and improve ties with the Taliban-led government.
However, he said the Malaysian government stood firm on its stance that women and girls have the right to education.
