CCM stands by its dress code guidelines

PETALING JAYA: The Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) has stood by its dress code for visitors following a brouhaha over the case of a woman who was turned away for wearing a dress with a hemline that was slightly above her knees.

“The dress code has long been implemented for counter services. It is a good practice (amalan baik) which involves everyone in the community, and as practised at other public service agencies,” it said in a statement.

In expressing regret over Friday’s case, CCM also indicated that it was ready to accept suggestions on ways to improve its customer services.

The statement came following an incident in which seafood supplier Khor Hooi Chin, whose dress length was slightly above her knees, was denied entry into the CCM building in Ipoh.

A staff member told her that her attire did not comply with CCM’s dress code.

(Based on a notice near the entrance, it states that visitors must be appropriately dressed. The notice outlined this as a shirt, collared T-shirt, long pants and skirt below the knee.)

In a video clip that is being circulated, Khor can be heard asking a male employee which part of her attire was not presentable.

The man then explained that he could not allow her to enter as her dress did not follow the guidelines.

Khor told The Star later that she arrived at 11am on Friday but was stopped by a guard.

She then asked to speak to a staff member, who came to inform her that her attire was not in accordance with the dress code.

“I had to leave the place and go to a mall to buy a longer skirt to go with my original dress.

“After doing all that, I had to wait until 2.45pm for the office to reopen,” she added.

Khor, 41, maintained that there was nothing sexy about her outfit, which was regular office wear.

“In my case, I had travelled quite a distance to get there. I wasted the entire day before getting my work done,” said Khor, who is from Pantai Remis.

According to CCM’s statement yesterday, “the customer was assisted by CCM officers and completed her transaction at 3.20pm on the same day.”