Cover image via JA Edgar/Malaysiakini & Sinchew Daily
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UPDATE:
Govt Says Dress Code Rules At Public Service Counters & Offices May Be Relaxed For Emergencies
The government will revise attire rules for public premises after a Cabinet decision that frontline services, including police stations, should not enforce dress codes that prevent people from getting help
This comes after a woman and her daughter, who were involved in a road accident, went public earlier this week, saying they were denied entry to the Jasin district police headquarters in Melaka because her skirt fell above the knee.
The incident sparked public criticism and renewed scrutiny over how strictly dress codes are enforced at government premises.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet had discussed the issue today, 10 December, after national outrage over the incident.
"Recently, there was an issue where an individual was not allowed to enter to lodge a police report because of their attire," he said at a post-Cabinet press conference in Parliament.
Fahmi said the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, has been directed to review the existing 2020 circular and "make several improvements".
According to him, the Cabinet agreed that essential frontline services, especially healthcare and security agencies, must be exempted from the guideline.
"This includes police stations," he said.
The Chief Secretary will "examine the matter in detail" before issuing an updated circular.
Fahmi said the updated directive is expected to be released soon
He stressed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's stance on the issue is also clear.
"From the prime minister's perspective, when it comes to security issues, there should not be any situation that prevents people from lodging a police report," he said.
Fahmi, who also serves as the government's official spokesperson, said further statements and new circulars will follow once the review is complete.
