About the new dress code for staff at UKM

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) last week issued guidelines on the new dress code for its staff. They spelt out in detail how one should be attired, from head to foot, on different days of the week. (“UKM’s stringent dress code for all” – The Star, Nov 2).

One wonders whether such measures are really necessary. In what way does it help to enhance the academic excellence of the university or boost the morale of the staff? Are such rigid dress codes in force in other public institutions of higher learning in the country?