GEORGE TOWN – Guests arriving at the Penang government’s ceremony for the swearing-in of the new state executive councillors yesterday morning were taken aback by an apparent ruling that male attendees must wear a songkok to be allowed in.
The new requirement by the state secretariat caught many who came to the Dewan Sri Pinang, the state’s iconic function hall here, by surprise.
Besides some journalists who were baffled by the strict imposition of the unprecedented condition, other invited guests, including family members of the state executive councillors and employees of the state government-linked companies were also caught off guard.
Those who came early were fortunate to have time to head to the nearest shop to purchase the item, much to the amusement of the shop workers.
Several guests were gathered outside Mydin supermarket at Penang Road, which is less than a ten-minute drive away, as its doors had not yet opened. It is understood that the supermarket only opens at 9.30am daily.
This included representatives from Chinese vernacular newspapers who were lining up to gain access to the shop to buy the songkok.
The guests were seen appealing to the staff to be let in to purchase songkoks as they tried to explain the predicament they were in.
It was, however, to no avail as they had to wait for the commercial premise to open as per its normal schedule.
An officer of a state government-linked company grumbled about the issue because although the rule to wear songkok was mentioned, it was not starkly defined.
“I therefore had to leave the venue to find a songkok,” he said.
A state secretariat spokesperson however said that the ruling was clearly spelled out in the invitations sent to the guests, hence they should respect the directive.
A check on the invitation card showed that it was mentioned in small letters in the dress code specification at the bottom-right corner of the card: “Lelaki: lounge suit hitam/gelap dan bersongkok” (Men: black/dark lounge suit and with songkok).
Former Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Wong Mun Hoe, a Gerakan veteran, was surprised by the incident, saying it must be a new dress code, as he could not recall previous state swearing-in ceremonies having such a requirement.
“You must ask the new state government. There is nothing wrong with it, but perhaps they should have notified the guests earlier, so that it is understood better.”
Usually, those attending the state awards presentations in conjunction with the Yang diPertua Negri’s annual investiture ceremonies, do not need to wear a songkok if they are wearing a lounge suit.
Only men wearing baju Melayu attire and official state ceremonial garb for the occasion are expected to wear a songkok. – The Vibes, August 17, 2023.
