KUALA LUMPUR – Hot on the heels of public furore over a woman denied entry to a police station because of her attire comes a similar incident – this time involving a woman in shorts who was turned away by a staffer at the Kampar Hospital in Perak.
Nanyang Siang Pau reported the incident after speaking to a friend of the 21-year-old woman, who was refused entry when she was brought to the emergency department there for severe stomach pains.
The Chinese-language newspaper quoted a Damian Chen, who said he and the woman’s boyfriend drove her to the Kampar Hospital’s emergency room, where a medical assistant turned her away.
The woman had filled out her information at the registration counter when a medical assistant allegedly pointed out that it was “impolite” of her to be dressed in shorts and told her to change into long pants in order to enter.
When the men protested, they were scolded for being uncouth, Chen said. They were told that it was “hospital rules”.
He also said that the three of them had just come from a badminton game.
He said he drove back to their university dormitory and returned with long pants for the woman, who was eventually given medical attention.
The woman and her boyfriend then took down the name of the medical assistant and sent an email to the hospital to complain.
With news of the incident spreading on social media, Perak exco A. Sivanesan verified it today, saying it occurred on Sunday at 11pm.
He was quoted by the New Straits Times saying that he would be seeking further explanation from both sides involved.
“As Malaysians, we should know the appropriate clothes to go to certain places. But for emergency cases, no matter what clothes people put on, don’t get angry,” NST reported him saying after an event in Ipoh today.
Earlier this month, a woman was denied entry to the Kajang police station when she wanted to lodge a report over an accident. She claimed she had been wearing Bermuda shorts, which end at the knee, but was told to go back to change into longer pants.
After the incident went viral and drew public outcry, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani said that police stations were considered government offices and had to follow an official circular dictating dress codes at government agencies.
However, he added that police station chiefs could also use their discretion when dealing with emergencies.
There is confusion over the matter, and lawyers have called for a clear policy statement, as the government circular on dress codes contradicts a parliamentary reply in 2015 by then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said that government dress codes should only apply to civil servants. – The Vibes, February 14, 2023
