KUALA LUMPUR: Questioning claims that Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh was unaware of the 'Taliban' paying a visit, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong wants clarification on the matter.
The MCA president said it was strange that Wong was not aware of the visit.
"DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng revealed that Wong was unaware of Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek hosting officials from Afghanistan's Taliban-run government.
This raises the question as to how Wong who is the deputy minister and holds influence and authority, did not know about this?
"Given the close relationship between Fadhlina and Wong, it seems unlikely that Wong would be completely unaware," Dr Wee said in a statement on his social media on Thursday (Nov 21).
Dr Wee then questioned Wong's stance on the visit.
He urged Wong to make a statement regarding the meeting between Fadhlina and the Taliban-run government.
"Does he (Wong) agree with Fadhlina’s actions?
"Does he agree with the Taliban?
"Is he just staying silent and avoiding the issue?," Dr Wee questioned.
While not naming the person, Dr Wee then shared that in the past a certain political leader, while in the opposition, often used the term “Taliban” in his talks to attack his political opponents.
"This strategy has earned his party significant Chinese votes.
"Now that very leader has been promoted to a Cabinet Minister, his party is now part of the government and many of its leaders have assumed ministerial and high-ranking positions," he said.
Dr Wee said the Education Minister (Fadhlina) has admitted to having met with an official delegation from the Afghanistan government.
"She claimed that the meeting was solely for an exchange of views on education.
"Lim however said Wong was unaware of the visit which is weird.
"Fadhlina and Wong's relationship is close, how could Wong not know about it," he said.
It was reported on Wed (Nov 20) that Lim urged Fadhlina to clarify why the ministry hosted officials from Afghanistan's Taliban-run government.
Lim raised the matter as Afghanistan is known for its restrictive access to education for women and girls.
When asked if Wong knew about the Afghanistan delegation visiting the ministry, Lim said Wong had yet to be informed of the matter.
On Saturday (Nov 16), Fadhlina confirmed that her ministry hosted officials from the Afghanistan government earlier this month.
She elaborated on the visit by officials from the Afghanistan Education Ministry 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.
