KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly a month into the current Dewan Rakyat sitting, there seems to be no uniformity as far as MPs’ dress code is concerned.
Under an announcement by the Speaker recently, MPs were given a choice of dropping their neckties when attending Parliament since the new session began on Feb 13.
While this has been largely followed by the ministers and government backbenchers, the Opposition bench has chosen to come in full formal attire complete, with men in business suits and neckties.
On the government side, some ministers turned up wearing their name tags while the majority, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his two deputies, have done away with it.
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau said the no-necktie practice was part of the unity government’s efforts to cut down on “excessive protocol”.
“Based on feedback, it has been well received. Many people have said it helped break down the barrier between MPs and the people.
“Many male MPs also said it was more comfortable not wearing neckties. I’m sure things like this also help them perform better during debates,” she said yesterday.
Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) said she raised the new formal dress code in her recent speech in Parliament, urging that male MPs dress to suit the tropical weather.
She said it was “not environmentally friendly” for the Opposition to choose to stick with their neckties and business suits.
“We have to embrace a more suitable dress code, and not just oppose it because it is announced by the unity government,” said Wong.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) confirmed that the Opposition bench had decided to ignore the freedom to go tieless.
“We want to be different, and show we mean business,” he added.
Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) said there was no directive from the Opposition chief whip concerning the attire of MPs.
He said by convention, MPs “are supposed to be in neckties and suits”.
“So it will remain status quo despite the Speaker’s announcement,” he added.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor, when asked, said it was up to an MP if he wanted to be formal and wear a necktie.
“We want to portray a more open concept to ease the tension between both sides,” he quipped.
Last month, Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul announced that MPs would not be required to wear neckties while in the Dewan Rakyat for a year from Feb 13.
The change in the formal dress code comes as Johari attempts to bring both procedural and physical reforms to the august hall. MPs are also allowed to wear batik on Thursdays.
On Dec 5, Anwar’s unity government grabbed headlines when ministers were photographed without their neckties after attending their first Cabinet meeting.
