KUALA LUMPUR: Pas has criticised the government for reviewing dress codes after pressure from a political party.
Its deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said this reflects a weak commitment to the longstanding national values of decency.
“Dress ethics are not a partisan issue; they are a fundamental aspect of social education that shapes the discipline of the people without exception and should be upheld, not relaxed,” he said in a Facebook post.
His statement follows an incident at the Jasin police headquarters, where a woman and her daughter were initially barred from filing a traffic accident report due to a dress-code violation.
“Pas said that the government must not yield to demands from certain quarters attempting to erode Malaysian values and societal norms.
“Instead, the government should strengthen dress code guidelines by providing clear explanations to the public, ensuring fair implementation across all agencies, and promoting a culture of decency as a true feature of Malaysia Madani.
“Malaysia will only remain harmonious if inherited values continue to be respected, not compromised under political pressure.”
Tuan Ibrahim added that the actions of the police personnel should be commended and upheld, as they serve to educate the public on respecting official government spaces.
“This is in line with the circular issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government regarding improvements in public sector customer service management, dated Dec 1, 2020.
“I am confident that the personnel acted based on assessment at the time, concluding that the situation was not an emergency and did not require immediate action.
“In an actual emergency, a different evaluation and response would have been taken.”
He said the party supports all parties that uphold proper dress ethics in the public sector.
“This support aligns with the philosophy and identity of Malaysian society, based on the fifth principle of the Rukun Negara, which is Courtesy and Morality,” he said, adding that the national principles were formulated to preserve the Eastern values, manners and moral conduct, which form the pillars of Malaysian civilisation.
It was previously reported that Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo had asked the Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Ismail to issue a nationwide directive to guarantee that no one is turned away from filing a report due to their attire.
Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said an internal inquiry was conducted following the incident, and officers were reminded of the correct procedure.
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