‘Enough of dress code policing’

KUALA LUMPUR: De facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri has expressed dismay with the recent incidences where women were barred from entering government offices on account of their dressing.

“When I read about it, I asked myself: Is this true or not? Malaysia was not like that before,” she said, describing the incidences as “ridiculous”.

Nancy said that as long as people were decently dressed, they should be allowed to wear whatever they want.

“Decently dressed does not mean you need to wear tudung,” said Nancy, making clear her objection to the imposition of one’s values onto others.

Speaking to reporters after attending a campaign against domestic violence organised by Women’s Aid Organisation at Publika yesterday, Nancy said people in the country chose to put on a diverse range of attire.

“This is the real Malaysia. There are people who wear shorts and slippers. There are those who wear tudung and those who don’t.

“This is democracy lah, come on. People want to dress how they want to,” she said.

Though government offices have dress codes, Nancy said visitors should not be turned away even if they did not comply.

“Don’t turn them away. It’s not easy to go there, you know. Just tell them to be properly dressed the next time,” she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun lauded the Cabinet’s decision to review the dress codes of government agencies, as reported in a local daily.

“It’s a very positive decision,” she said. “It proves that the Cabinet is open-minded,” she said at the launch of a book fair here yesterday.