“I have received many questions about this matter. We do not want the visit to be misinterpreted as Malaysia condoning or not opposing their (Taliban’s) ban on women studying at secondary schools and universities.”

- DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng

COMMENT | This is the question Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has to answer about hosting the Taliban’s visit to Malaysia.

This is also a question for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who in Rio De Janeiro reportedly “reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to supporting halal-related matters, besides efforts to uplift the status of Islam through education and dakwah (teachings) to the Muslim community in Brazil.”

DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng was correct when he referenced “gender apartheid” when it came to this most secretive of visits. At the heart of it, what we are dealing with is the Taliban’s total annihilation of women from public - and one could even argue private - domains.

Let me be very clear. Our education minister invited a group of people who, if they ruled Malaysia, would have...