Deputy law minister to meet authorities over police station dress code

GEORGE TOWN – Deputy Law and Institutional Reform Minister Ramkarpal Singh has expressed his unhappiness over how the authorities have handled the dress code for members of the public at police stations throughout the country.

This comes after it was reported that a young woman who attempted to lodge a report was recently denied access to the police station in Kajang, as her skirt was deemed unsuitable by a low-ranking officer due to its length above her knees.

Ramkarpal said he would seek clarification from the relevant authorities as the present guidelines are confusing.

“Denying an entry due to different interpretations of a dress code is both misleading and confusing. There needs to be a uniform guideline and code,” he said.

Ramkarpal said that in many cases, those seeking to lodge police reports are in desperate situations and need immediate attention from law enforcement.

“Asking them to go home and dress according to one’s interpretation of a suitable fashion also contravenes the law, as in cases of road accidents, the parties involved should lodge reports quickly.

“This is to prevent any negligence of the accident and vehicles so traffic police and insurers can make the right assessments,” he said.

He said this during a Lunar New Year open house attended by DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also DAP vice-chairman.

Ramkarpal, who has been entrusted to help the national unity government formulate institutional reforms, said that police need to have a uniform dress code for all their facilities, including police stations, so as to not confuse the public.

Earlier, Chow praised Ramkarpal as an exceptional leader, who secured the highest majority among the 15 Parliament seats contested in Penang during the recent general election.

“The party has come far, seeing him appointed as deputy minister. However, we still require support from voters to ensure that the nation progresses well.”

Pointing to the upcoming state elections, which Chow predicted to be just months away, he urged the voters to continue supporting Pakatan Harapan in Penang, as the coalition works to ensure their rights are always protected.

The dress code issue was widely debated online after Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani was quoted as saying that the relaxation of the dress code in police stations is only allowed in emergencies and is limited to “life-and-death” situations.

Acryl Sani said police stations fell under the category of government offices, adding that the chief secretary to the government had made clear the types of clothes that can and cannot be worn in a directive.

He insisted that the rules must be followed, citing “kesopanan dan kesusilaan” (courtesy and morality) – the fifth principle of the Rukun Negara – as the basis.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia has since called on the government to maintain its position once made in Parliament in 2015 that there is no dress code for the public when dealing with government departments and agencies.  – The Vibes, February 6, 2023