JOHOR BARU: Recent dress code incidents in which women were denied entry into government buildings are concerning, says Wanita MCA national chairman Wong You Fong.
She said that the authorities should use their discretion and common sense in dealing with such circumstances.
“Wanita MCA is concerned about overzealous dress code moral policing that continues at government offices, with the latest incident being at the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG)," she said.
Wong said that in the most recent incident on Wednesday (Feb 15), a 60-year-old woman was barred from using the elevator to renew her business permit on the second floor after entering the premises because her attire was "not long enough".
“From the photo, it is apparent that the hemline covered her shin, just short of reaching the ankles,” she said in a statement on Saturday (Feb 18).
On this, the Johor MCA Wanita chairman said that security guards are tasked with the safety of the building and should not act as a form of moral police.
“Where the MBPG security guard is concerned, security guards are tasked with maintaining security and the safety of staff and visitors in the building, instead of exploiting their position to satisfy their lust and (conducting) moral policing," said Wong.
“Society cannot be lulled into accepting little Napoleons who assume they have been bestowed with the unwritten licence to ogle at anybody’s anatomical physique on the basis of executing dress codes,” she added.
On Thursday (Feb 16), The Star reported that a 60-year-old businesswoman was barred from using the elevator at MBPG for allegedly dressing inappropriately.
The woman wore a pastel yellow long dress that extended to her mid-calf and covered shoes when she turned up at the council for business licence matters around 11am on Wednesday (Feb 15).
In a separate case in Perak, a woman was reportedly scolded by a medical worker for being "indecently dressed" while seeking treatment at the hospital in the 11pm incident on Sunday (Feb 12).
Another case that was recently in the spotlight was that of a woman who was denied entry into a police station in Kajang because she was wearing a pair of shorts.
Wong also said that the MCA women’s wing is concerned that the over-focus on dress could dilute and eventually erode Malaysia’s multicultural values.
“We note that Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution has informed the police to accept reports regardless of what clothes a person wears and Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has affirmed that every patient deserves priority regardless of dress code.
‘’Wanita MCA is not advocating that the public may simply don any skimpy or revealing outfit and stride into any premises. So long as the individual is decently attired, there is no justification to prohibit entry.
“However, in emergency or life-and-death circumstances, the authorities should use their discretion and plain common sense to allow the individual entry,” she said.
