Don’t blindly enforce: S’wak rep urges Zuki to call for dress code review

MIRI – Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali should call for a review and clarification over the supposed dress code directives imposed by government offices and agencies, said Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii.

The state lawmaker highlighted this matter in a statement, issued in response to the recurring incidents of individuals being denied entry to government offices due to non-compliance with the set dress code.

According to Yii, the guidelines are not law and government agencies should handle such matters in relevance to the actual situation, instead of “blindly enforcing” the guidelines.

He added that such dress codes imposed on the public were “against the principle of providing good services to the people”.

“Members of the public usually visit government places like hospitals or police stations to ask for help. In this respect, the civil servants should provide good services to the taxpayers, and not turn them away just because of their attire, unless it is downright inappropriate or obscene.

“It is very unreasonable to deny the public from receiving adequate services from any government agency.”

Yii fully acknowledged the need for the public to uphold good etiquette, including wearing decent attire, in dealing with any matter at any public space.

But he said in an emergency situation – especially for matters at a hospital or a police station – the officer in charge should focus on resolving the serious issues rather than being too concerned about the dress code.

“Fortunately, such incidents did not happen in Sarawak. This also proves that the government agencies in Sarawak have been relatively enlightened, rational, and humane under Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s governance.

“I hope such an incident would never happen in Sarawak. Anyone who encounters a similar incident, please lodge a complaint to me immediately, rather than posting it on social media.

“It would tarnish the reputation of the country, and it would take a long time to undo the damage.” – Borneo Post Online, March 13, 2023