'Be fair': Guan Eng rues media report on his objection to Taliban delegation

DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng claimed some media outlets have failed to report fairly on his objections to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek hosting a delegation from the Afghan government.

Without naming names, he said certain print media have failed to report that his main contention is because the Taliban-led government bars women from studying at secondary and university levels.

“The print media in question should not get carried away by sentiment and be fair in reporting my objection is based on the realities of women’s rights that are being denied in Afghanistan.

“The restrictions by the Taliban-led government on teenage women have been condemned by the United Nations as a ‘gender apartheid’. Such restrictions on education are discriminatory and a cruel oppression against women,” he said in a statement today.

He also noted that Perikatan Nasional has not opposed the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education.

“Women ought to have the right to education opportunities without restriction in order to realise their full potential. Thus, the whole world, including Malaysia, should stand with women in Afghanistan and reject the Taliban’s restrictions on their education,” he added.

Chance to school Taliban

Earlier this month, Fadhlina hosted a delegation led by Afghan Education Ministry director-general Shahabuddin Saqib.

Lim had questioned Fadhlina for hosting the meeting since Afghanistan does not have diplomatic ties with Malaysia, and because of the Taliban’s policies on women’s education.

Among others, he asked Fadhlina whether she had brought up the restrictions during their discussions.

In turn, Fadhlina defended the meeting as an opportunity to showcase Malaysia’s education system and convince the delegation that educating women not only does not contradict Islam but is in line with its teachings.

Responding to this, Lim expressed hope that the efforts of Fadhlina and others in the unity government to engage with the Afghan government to convince it to abolish restrictions on women’s education would bear fruit.

“(But) if these efforts fail, then Malaysia’s Education Ministry should not entertain Afghanistan’s Education Ministry,” he said.

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