RSC votes ‘no women’ rule into colonial dustbin

Historic moment: Jayakumar posing at the RSC’s Long Bar where a 139-year-old tradition of barring women from its premises was lifted on Sunday in a move to bridge the gender divide at the club. — CHAN TAK KONG/ The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: In a move to bridge the gender divide, a 139-year-old tradition that barred women at the Long Bar of the Royal Selangor Club (RSC) Dataran Merdeka was scrapped on Sunday.

The “no women” rule of the watering hole at the RSC in Jalan Raja, which is among Malaysia’s oldest clubs, was lifted at an extraordinary general meeting attended by about 200 members.RSC president M. Jayakumar said except for a few, there was an overwhelming support from members to vote out the rule and allow women access to the Long Bar.