KOTA KINABALU: A Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) youth leader has urged the state government to allow civil servants to wear attires with traditional Sabah patterns at work.
This came after civil servants at the federal-level are required to wear Malaysian batik on Thursdays.
PBS Youth chief Christopher Mandut said Putrajaya’s decision on the batik is welcomed and I hoped it would be extended to every state including Sabah.
"However, I suggest that the Sabah government allows and encourages the wearing of not only batik, but also attire with Sabah traditional patterns," he said on Friday (Aug 25).
"Sabah is famous for its ethnic and cultural diversity as we have more than 30 ethnic groups with various interesting and meaningful traditional patterns in terms of customs and culture.
"Each group in Sabah has its own pattern, and this can be made into a 'Sabah batik' that highlights the uniqueness of the races in the state," he added.
Mandut said the usage of clothing with traditional Sabah designs would help to promote tourism and boost the local economy.
He said this was in line with PBS’ struggle which prioritises racial diversity and the preservation of local culture.
"I believe that with this effort, traditional patterns in Sabah are not only seen during the harvest season but throughout the year.
"Therefore, I suggest that the concept and design of Sabah batik shirts be introduced and initiated at the state government level.
"I believe it will be widely welcomed in addition to helping Sabah's traditional clothing and batik businesses grow more rapidly," Mandut said.
