KUALA LUMPUR: The government has clarified that dress code rules at public service counters and government offices may be relaxed in emergencies to ensure no one is denied urgent assistance.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the general guideline on public attire when engaging with government agencies was outlined in Public Service Administrative Circular (PKPA) No. 1 of 2025: Strengthening Customer Relations Management in the Public Sector, which came into effect on Jan 20.
The directive states that members of the public should be “appropriately and modestly dressed in line with the fifth principle of the Rukun Negara, Courtesy and Morality.”
“However, the government recognises that frontline services often deal with urgent and emergency situations,” he said in a statement tonight.
“Given the nature of such services, including those provided by security and health personnel, flexibility in dress code will be allowed in emergencies or exceptional circumstances, so that customers are not denied immediate assistance.”
Shamsul Azri said that such allowances were provided under Clause 3.2 of Appendix A in PKPA 1/2025. Emergencies include accidents, fires, and disaster-related incidents where lives or property are at risk.
“For non-urgent dealings at government counters and offices, department heads retain discretion to determine what constitutes appropriate attire.
“For routine matters, heads of department may exercise reasonable judgement to ensure attire remains modest and in line with existing guidelines,” he said.
He said that the public service remained committed to improving customer relations and service delivery.
“We will continue to enhance engagement to ensure access to services that are friendly, efficient, and responsive, in accordance with the Ihsan principle under the Madani values,” he said.
The clarification follows an incident yesterday when a woman was denied entry to the Jasin police headquarters for wearing a skirt deemed too short.
Earlier, government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim viewed access to police services as “non-negotiable,” and that essential frontline services, particularly health and security agencies, were exempt under the circular — including police stations.
The decision was an immediate reversal from the stance of Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar, who had reminded the public to adhere to the official dress code when visiting police counters, citing the 2020 circular.
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