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What should Malaysian women (Malay, Chinese, Indian and others) wear?
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Ministry tells RTD guards to drop dress code enforcement http://bit.ly/1NgjgzW
Ministry tells RTD guards to drop dress code enforcement
PETALING JAYA, June 26 — Security guards with the Transport Ministry will no longer be allowed to tell the public visiting its offices or agencies how to dress.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, said this yesterday following the “sarong” controversy at the Road Transport Department (RTD) in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, on June 8.
In the incident, a woman wearing a skirt covering just above her knees was asked to wrap herself with a sarong.
Abdul Aziz said the ministry had come to a consensus earlier this week that security guards, including those from Rela, would no longer be allowed to instruct the public to cover up.
“Whether the public adhere to a dress code, or are wearing appropriate clothing, will be assessed by the government officers working at the counters, not the security guards,” he told Malay Mail.
He said the RTD officers would use their discretion on the issue of appropriate clothing, and would take on a “softer” approach when a dress code violation was noted.
“We will advise and educate the public about the dress code,” he said.
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She said such sexily-dressed women were common encounters during her stint at the Wangsa Maju RTD branch.
Malay Mail Online
Rela officer awarded ‘letter of appreciation’ after RTD sarong furore
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 ― The Rela officer responsible for making a woman don a sarong to receive service at a Road Transport Department (RTD) office has been awarded a “letter of appreciation” as a morale booster.
According to English daily The Star, Rela director-general Lukeman Saaid said this was because officer Tazidamiza Ismail had come under heavy fire after the June 9 incident.
“She received a lot of flak over incident though she was only doing the job,” he was quoted telling reporters at a Home Ministry buka puasa function yesterday.
“Rela personnel are supposed to perform their duties according to the standard operating procedure of the department they are assigned to,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tazidamiza, who was posted as a security guard at the Wangsa Maju RTD branch at the time of the incident, said such sexily-dressed women were common encounters during her stint.
She said she would spot at least one every day and would always make them put on the sarong, which she keeps with her at all times.
“I keep a batik sarong with me for the women who dress sexily. Most of the time, they just wear the sarong and do what they came to do,” she was quoted telling reporters.
Asked to comment the incident that went viral on social media, Tazidamiza said her accuser had not kicked up a fuss when she was made to wear the sarong.
“She just wore the sarong and went to the counter. About an hour later, some of the JPJ staff told me that the incident had been uploaded on social media,” she was quoted saying, referring to the RTD by its Bahasa Malaysia initials.
In light of the incident, Tazidamiza has since requested for a transfer from the Wangsa Maju RTD office.
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Now she could visit JPJ anywhere in the country!
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Surely, this would please ISMA…
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ISMA: Transport Minister is “suffering from bad morals”.
3:10PM Jun 11, 2015
Sarong gets Liow in knot with Isma
Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has come under fire for threatening to take action against the Road Transport Department officer who issued the infamous “sarong” directive.
Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman said the officer’s actions were noble and worthy of praise.
“When a minister wants to hold an investigation and take action against the officer, I think he is suffering from bad morals,” he told Ismaweb.
He also criticised Liow over his statement that the Transport Ministry will review the dress code for the public at government offices.
“The current dress code ethics set by government departments for the public follows the values of the Malaysian society,” he argued.
Abdullah further explained that as a minister, Liow should be educated in morals that would help him adopt the right attitude regarding values.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/301499
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Is this an attempt to cover up #saronggate?
Is it credible, this tale of a RELA guard making his own decision? Or is he merely the scapegoat for someone else, someone much higher up?
Star
Wednesday June 10, 2015 MYT 12:45:26 PM
Rela guard made sarong cover-up decision on his own
KUALA LUMPUR: An overzealous Rela guard at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) office was responsible for instructing motorist Suzanna G.L. Tan to wear a sarong to cover her legs.
Deputy Transport Minister Ab Aziz Kaprawi said the guard had already been moved to another section.
“He acted on his own and not under JPJ’s instructions,” he told newsmen at the Global Airport Development (GAD) Asia Conference 2015.
Ab Aziz said JPJ offices had the same guidelines on proper attire as those issued to all government departments.
He however said there should not be “such drastic action for those who don’t comply.”
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/10/JPJ-Rela-guard-acted-alone/
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THE DUST HAS NOT EVEN SETTLED OVER THE JPJ #SARONGGATE ISSUE AND HERE IS ANOTHER!
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Latest on SAYS The Sarong Cover-Ups: It Wasn’t Just The JPJ, Another Woman Was Given A Sarong In Selayang http://bit.ly/sarongcoverups
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Another woman, Pang told SAYS that she was prohibited by the security guard at Selayang Municipal Council from entering its premises and was also passed a sarong to wear when she visited its office today, 10 June.
- She was there to submit her documents related to business licencing. According to Ms. Pang, the security guard there pointed at the signboard and told her that “It’s clearly stated that the dress must be over the knee, then only you are allowed to go up.”The guard then continued saying, “You must go back and change your attire now, or wear our sarong.””I was quite upset, looking at my dress, indeed my dress isn’t over my knee, but it’s still considered a proper office attire. And this is not the first time I’m wearing this to government offices. So I checked with the guard again as to why I could wear this last week but not this week?”He said, YDP just gave an order that whole of Malaysia’s office must follow these rules. “So even if I allow you to go up, when the office staff see your attire, they will still ignore you. So do you still want to change to our Sarong?” the guard asked her again.
Ms. Pang, who wondered if it’s a valid reason to reject a visitor, then calmly asked the guard, “can you tell me what’s wrong with a female wearing a skirt? I just want to know. Because even though my dress is different from your signboard, why is it wrong?”r she wants to change the dress. She answered him the same thing. “I just want to submit my document.”
Read the whole account:
http://says.com/my/news/skirt-wearing-women-in-malaysia-told-to-wear-sarong-to-cover-up
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又来一单！！！
网传一名妇女到JPJ因被指裙子过短而被要求穿上「纱笼」，同样的，今天一名女子前往士拉央市议会时，被指因穿著不符规定而遭保安刁难。
保安说：「你要就立刻现在回去换衣服，或者穿我们给你的纱笼。」
当事者听完后深感不满，并认为自己裙子虽没有超过膝盖，但也算是办公室装，而且也不是第一次穿这身打扮到政府部门办理事宜。
来源：东方日报
Another woman visiting the Selayang Municipal Council was told by security that “you have to go back and change clothes or we’ll give you a sarong”.
After listening to this, she was deeply dissatisfied as this was not the first time she had worn the same dress to other government or council offices!
Source: Oriental Daily
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WHEN CIVIL SERVANTS LORD IT OVER CITIZENS
You would think that the JPJ care about public opinion. Do they?
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Malaysiakini
6:25PM Jun 9, 2015
Shocked over arbitrary dress code enforcement
The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) expresses shock at the treatment of a woman who was refused service at a Road Transport Department (RTD) office for allegedly dressing in a manner which was too ‘revealing’.
The action of the officers at the RTD office of refusing to provide service and forcing her to wear a sarong was both unwarranted and unprofessional. Such mistreatment is reflective of the growing conservatism in Malaysia which seeks to police the dressing and behavior of ordinary Malaysians.
While it is acceptable to have a dress code for religious houses such as mosques or temples, the government on the other hand, has no place in adopting such stringent dress codes. What effect does the implementation of a rigid dress code have on the daily operations of an RTD office? How will it improve or disrupt the services of an RTD office?
It is important to note that nothing in the RTD’s Client Charter even mentions the dressing of customers. Wouldn’t the personnel in government office, in this case the RTD office, be better served focusing on improving the service provided to its customers rather than judging their clients and attempting to strictly enforce a dress code?
The obsession with implementing a dress code is based on the assumption that Malaysians are unable to choose their own attire without regulation and policing. Again, women are being victimised for how they dress – this time by being denied access to government services. Whose standard of modesty is being enforced on all Malaysians?
How and where will government offices draw the line on what constitutes indecent dress? Will all government offices then begin checking for dress code compliance following this incident? Surely our government resources can be better used to improve the service provided at government offices.
JAG is concerned that the implementation of a dress code has the risk of being another form of oppression and abused by government officers to deny services, especially to female customers. We urge the RTD to prioritise upholding their promise of ‘friendly, efficient and transparent’ service as found within their own Client Charter rather than indulging in pointless policing.
JAG hopes the government will end this unnecessary moral policing by removing stringent dress codes, especially one that is tied to narrow and arbitrary definitions of modesty.
Endorsed by the Joint Action for Gender Equality (JAG):
1. All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
2. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
3. Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group (Sawo)
4. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
5. Perak Women for Women (PWW)
6. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
7. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
8. Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/301264?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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Lawyer talk: Sue, can sue!
Yes, we can sue but what about the expense? And the time?
Malay Mail Online
Can sue RTD for refusing service over dressing, lawyers say
KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — The public may take the Road Transport Department (RTD) to court if they are denied service for violating the agency’s dress code, lawyers said today after the department forced a woman to wear a sarong before serving her.
Former Sessions Court judge Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin said the RTD, which prohibits visitors from wearing skirt lengths above the knee, shorts or sleeveless shirts at its offices, has no business imposing the Islamic dress code on the public.
“It’s illegal and can be challenged in court,” Noor Farida told Malay Mail Online.
“They can only do so if it is provided for under their governing Act, which is the Road Transport Act.
“The JPJ should confine itself to undertaking its role and functions as mandated by the Road Transport Act and not arrogate to itself the function of moral policing,” added Noor Farida, who is also a member of G25, a group of Malay former high-ranking civil servants fighting for moderation.
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Jun 9, 2015
Sarong incident – RTD under probe, says ‘sorry’
Probe ordered over RTD ‘wear sarong’ policy http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/301245 .@JPJ_Malaysia .@liowtionglai
Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has ordered an investigation into the case of a lady who was forced to don a sarong before being served at the counter of a JPJ office. In a Facebook today, Liow said the probe would comnmence immediately and action would taken against those responsible for making the women wear a sarong. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/301245 — Star
Tuesday June 9, 2015 MYT 5:44:07 PM
Sarong cover-up: JPJ admits it went too far
PETALING JAYA: Forcing a decently dressed woman to wear a sarong before attending to her was a step too far, admitted the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
The JPJ, in a press statement, apologised to Suzanna G.L. Tan and acknowledged there was no such policy. “JPJ would like to firmly state there is no regulation that indicates visitors must be provided with a sarong. Clearly, this is an inconvenience to the visitor,” it said.
However, it pointed out that visitors to JPJ offices were subject to a dress code, just like other Government departments.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/09/JPJ-too-far/
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Malay Mail Online
RTD dress code sign of creeping Islamisation? ask BN, Pakatan MPs
— Star
Tuesday June 9, 2015 MYT 1:51:55 PM
Parliament: Lawmakers criticise JPJ dress code
KUALA LUMPUR: Lawmakers across the divide criticised the move of a Road Transport Department (JPJ) officer in handing a sarong to a woman and asking her to cover up.
Liang Teck Meng (BN- Simpang Renggam) questioned the move by the officer, adding such actions are unacceptable in the country. “What she wore can be commonly seen everywhere. I feel we have become a laughing stock,” said Liang while debating the 11th Malaysian Plan Tuesday.
He questioned the dress code guideline by JPJ and asked if it was issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government. “I think this guideline is unreasonable and maybe the Government needs to review it,” he said.
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Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) agreed with Liang, adding the Transport Ministry should clarify if such rules are issued by the ministry or was taken into the hands of the JPJ officers.
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) said this is a serious issue and cannot be ignored. “The lady did not wear a swimming suit or bikini. What about some poor people who are unable to dress according to the guidelines? “Are you saying they should not go to these office? Why are they so particular,” he said.
Teo Ni Ching (DAP- Kulai) agreed with the Barisan lawmakers, adding the dress code stated by JPJ on their Facebook page does not cater to all races. “We understand that for Muslims, they need to cover up but what about Indians and Chinese whose traditional outfits are not necessarily fully covered as some outfits are sleeveless,” she asked.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/09/Parliament-Lawmakers-JPJ/
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Star
Tuesday June 9, 2015 MYT 1:41:21 PM
Woman surprised that FB post on JPJ dress code has gone viral
PETALING JAYA: While amused at being handed a sarong, Suzanna G.L. Tan said that she just followed the instruction made by officials and covered up before sorting out her paperwork at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) office. Suzanna when contacted said that she did not want to make a big deal of it.
“They just handed me this thing and I knew that if I made a fuss, I would not get my transfer form signed,” she said referring to the sarong that was handed to her by officials at the Wangsa Maju JPJ office in Gombak.
She added that other than being told to cover up, she was treated well by the officers and was surprised at how much attention her Facebook post on the matter had garnered. “I really have no more comments to make. I have said what needs to be said,” she said.
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WHAT IS SAID ON TWITTER
Two MPs in Dewan Rakyat today question the need for dress code rules for customers at JPJ office. Hmm, well…. #saronggate #Malaysia
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JPJ could have managed this better. Nothing wrong with serving her and politely reminding her of the dress code.
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Moral policing by JPJ staff. Not appropriate by their standard but also not indecent either. http://fb.me/3UZsUS8gf
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Malaysian @themmailonline If only @JPJ_Malaysia is as strict in enforcement of road rules as in their enforcement of dress code.
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Republic of Sarawak retweeted
WHAT idiocy is this? Is it @JPJ_Malaysia‘s job to be determinors, interpretors & guardians of public “decency”? https://twitter.com/zurairi/status/608106568136192000 …
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Sabrina M My girl @MelatiPagnoux said it best. #JPJ #PakaiSarongBaruHipster
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Teh @liowtionglai what is the issue of not able to wear slippers? which part of a human feet is “indecent”? @JPJ_Malaysia
— Star
Tuesday June 9, 2015 MYT 6:59:42 AM
Liow: JPJ needs to be more people-friendly and provide better services
https://youtu.be/jRrodUzRkwo CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) must shed its image as just an enforcement unit, and become more people-friendly and provide better services to the people, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. “The old perception of JPJ enforcement officers being unapproachable should change. Meeting its officers often means getting a summons. This often portrays officers as not people-friendly,” he said. “We want to change that. We want services at counters to be efficient,” he said at the opening of the Cameron Highlands JPJ branch office here yesterday. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/09/Liow-JPJ-needs-to-be-more-peoplefriendly-and-provide-better-services/ — JPJ Malaysia @JPJ_Malaysia 13 hours ago Malaysia
TATACARA PAKAIAN PELAWAT yang berurusan di Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia @KP_JPJ @SkuadM1JPJ @JPenerangan
— This respectable-looking lady said she was forced to wear a sarong before the JPJ would serve her! 
— REACTIONS ON TWITTER
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Do we Malaysian need to that extreme.. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/09/Sarong-coverup-is-so-wrong-Public-outrage-over-womans-treatment-by-JPJ-officers …
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Halim Karim …
Government agencies should stop focusing on what their customers should wear, instead they should spend more time… http://fb.me/3u1xBqS3v …
MALAYSIAN CHRONICLE: RACISM AT JPJ: Woman forced to wear ‘sarong’ by overzealous officer: PETALING JAYA – A di… http://bit.ly/1RZY9p5
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‘Sarong cover-up is so wrong’ http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/09/Sarong-coverup-is-so-wrong-Public-outrage-over-womans-treatment-by-JPJ-officers …
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RACISM AT JPJ: Woman forced to wear ‘sarong’ by overzealous officer http://bit.ly/1B2fc5d
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JPJ in Petaling Jaya, a unit of the Islamic State???
— A JPJ public relations officer said: “We are investigating when and where the incident happened. If we know where it happened, we want a report from that office.” Star
Tuesday June 9, 2015 MYT 6:57:58 AM
‘Sarong cover-up is so wrong’
Before and after: Photos posted on Tan’s Facebook page showing her original attire (left) and the sarong she was asked to wear at the JPJ office. PETALING JAYA: Public uproar has erupted after a woman, who was decently dressed, was handed a sarong by a Road Transport Department (JPJ) officer and asked to cover up. Suzanna G.L. Tan posted on Facebook a photograph of her wearing a blouse with a skirt that ended just above the knee when she went to a JPJ office to transfer the ownership of her car which she had sold. Another photograph showed her wearing a sarong at the JPJ counter. … Other Facebook users were enraged. “I think the JPJ is rude for embarrassing people like that. It’s not like she’s wearing a bikini,” wrote Syazalia Razali. Napsiah Wan Salleh posted: “I know of a dress code for women to enter the Parliament ie hemline must be below the knees. But JPJ? This is wacko. There is no dress code to enter a JPJ premise except that one must dressed decently.” Leon Chan said: “You just cannot impose your values onto others, period.” — 
— JPJ: A law unto themselves Meaning: If somebody is a law unto themselves, they do things their own way and follow their own ideas about how to live instead of following what others do. (https://www.englishclub.com/ref/esl/Idioms/L/a_law_unto_themselves_653.htm)
Paul Tan JPJ posts dress code requirements online – take note before going to JPJ to avoid another saronggate http://paul.my/1Jz0OVg
Paul Tan 
— “So, I looked like this, a bag!” Star
Monday June 8, 2015 MYT 10:24:02 PM
JPJ tells woman to ‘cover up’ with sarong or be refused service
PETALING JAYA: A woman had a shock at a Road Transport Department (JPJ) office when she was forced to wear a sarong or be refused service. In a Facebook post, Suzanna G L Tan said she was at the JPJ office to transfer the ownership of her car after selling it. She also posted a photograph of herself outside the office, wearing a blouse with a skirt that ended just above the knee. Another photograph showed her wearing a sarong sitting at the JPJ counter. “I had to go to JPJ personally to sign the transfer form for the car I sold. That in itself is already a pain,” Tan wrote. “I go dressed like this. Indecent meh?” she asked in reference to her dressing in the photograph. Tan said while she was at the counter to get a queue number when she was handed a sarong to wear “or they would not entertain me”. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/08/RTD-forces-woman-to-use-sarong-over-skirt/ — theSundaily
Sarong storm at JPJ
Posted on 8 June 2015 – 06:00pm Last updated on 8 June 2015 – 10:18pm
A JPJ public relations officer said investigations are currently underway to identify which one of its branches was involved in the incident. “We were just informed of the matter and are currently doing our own investigation,” he said when contacted by theSun. On whether this is a new guideline for customers visiting JPJ offices, he said: “Whatever it is, we have to dress accordingly, based on the dress code of entering a government building.” http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1452654 —
Anne James Is this legal? How about checking corruption rather than telling women how to dress? http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/06/08/woman-claims-she-was-forced-to-wear-sarong-to-enter-jpj/#.VXW6PN8Nw6A.twitter …
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Another step towards the abyss #inform122 Hudud ascending #Malaysia http://fb.me/2JfOwo4gT
— The Rakyat Post
Woman claims she was forced to wear sarong to enter JPJ
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8, 2015: A woman has voiced her displeasure on Facebook for allegedly being forced to wear a sarong before being allowed into a Road Transport Department (JPJ) building. According to the post, Suzanne G. L. Tan visited the JPJ office, said to be in Wangsa Maju here, to sign a transfer form for a car that she had sold. However, Tan, clad in a white-and-pink top and a red skirt reaching just before her knees, claimed that she was given a sarong when she approached a JPJ officer behind the numbers counter. She alleged she was told to wear the sarong or she would not be entertained. “I go dressed like this … Indecent meh?” she said in the post. Tan posted three pictures, in which one was taken outside the premises before she wore the sarong, and an additional two pictures showing as she was walking to the counter and sitting behind the counter desk. http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/06/08/woman-claims-she-was-forced-to-wear-sarong-to-enter-jpj/ ———————————————————————————————————
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