KUALA LUMPUR: A senior opposition lawmaker has criticised Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng over his comments concerning the recent visit by the Afghanistan education delegation to the Education Ministry, saying his remarks gives a 'negative image' to Malaysia.
"The Bagan MP should not give Malaysia a negative image on the global stage," Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas) deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man told reporters at a press conference in parliament.
"We support and urge the minister (Fadhlina Sidek) to share expertise and knowledge to help develop Afghanistan, similar to how Malaysia has assisted newly independent nations," he added.
Pas is the biggest Islamic party in Malaysia.
Guan Eng, chairman of the Democratic Action Party (Dap), had raised a question as to why the Afghanistan delegation was allowed to visit Malaysia since it has restriction on female education.
DAP is a member of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition which is led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Education Ministry, however, has defended the tour by officials from the Taliban-led Afghanistan early this month, saying the visit was conducted based on the advice of the Foreign Ministry.
It also said Malaysia was prepared to assist the country in the fields of health and humanitarian efforts, in a bid to promote social development.