KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Lim Guan Eng, chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), has called on Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to explain a recent visit by officials from Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, raising concerns over the lack of public disclosure and the implications for human rights.
Lim, a Member of Parliament for Bagan, said he learned about the delegation’s visit only through an online news portal and noted that even Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah I had not been informed.
“As a representative of the people and an advocate for human rights, especially women’s education rights, I want to ask why the Ministry of Education allowed a visit from a country that Malaysia does not have diplomatic relations with,” Lim said during a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday.
“More importantly, Afghanistan is the only country in the world that bans women from attending high school and university. The United Nations has condemned such actions as gender apartheid. Malaysians deserve an explanation because we are deeply concerned.”
Visit confirmed by education minister
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed earlier this month that the ministry had hosted Taliban officials, stating that the visit was over and involved sharing views on education.
Lim, however, questioned the appropriateness of engaging with representatives from a government that has severely restricted women’s rights, including banning girls and women from pursuing higher education.
He called on Fadhlina to address the matter during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) on Thursday.
“As a woman and an education minister, I trust that Fadhlina has her own concerns about this issue,” Lim added.
The visit has drawn criticism from human rights advocates and raised questions about Malaysia’s position on engaging with the Taliban-led government, which has faced global condemnation for its gender policies.
It is worth noting that the Taliban delegation was led by Shahabuddin Saqib, the head of the Office of the Ministry of Education under the Taliban administration.
