Clear air over Hadi’s pledge to Afghans, ex-diplomat tells govt

 

Abdul Hadi Awang (second from right) meeting Taliban officials in Qatar last week. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The foreign ministry should clear the air over a recent pledge by Abdul Hadi Awang to help the Taliban-run Afghan government with humanitarian and economic aid, a former ambassador said.

Based on past practices, a Cabinet decision is not required when the government makes such donations, although it does require the prime minister’s written approval, Dennis Ignatius said.

“To avoid confusion, I think Wisma Putra should issue a statement to clarify the situation.

“Special envoys do not have the authority to make such donations without reference to the prime minister’s office,” he told FMT.

Dennis Ignatius.

Ignatius said this in response to reports that Malaysia has promised to help Afghanistan with humanitarian and economic assistance, including aid to redevelop the country.

The spokesman of the Taliban-run Afghan government, Suhail Shaheen, recently said the assurance of aid was given by Hadi, Malaysia’s special envoy to the Middle East, in Qatar.

Hadi’s pledge, however, drew brickbats from the opposition, with an Amanah leader questioning if the Marang MP had the authority to do so.

But Ignatius said that recognition of the Taliban regime should be kept separate from the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Malaysia must do whatever it can to help the country which, according to international aid agencies, is facing a catastrophic crisis, he said.

“So I applaud the decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan via the UN,” he said.

Ignatius, a 36-year veteran in the Malaysian foreign service, expressed the hope that Putrajaya would join other governments in insisting that the Taliban regime respect the human rights of its people.

He said the regime cannot go back to its “backward, brutal and barbaric ways of the past”.

But the responsibility, he said, should be left to the foreign ministry.

“I am not sure that Hadi Awang, given his skewered worldview, is the best person to accomplish this mission.”

Last month, Putrajaya said it could only make an official stand on the Taliban administration, which came into power in August last year, once they are recognised by the likes of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah had previously said Malaysia would adopt a cautious approach on the matter. - FMT