GEORGE TOWN – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has ordered state secretary Datuk Sayuthi Bakar to liaise with the protocol division of the state to avoid future confusion over the wearing of songkok at official state functions.
Responding to the rather baffling experience during the swearing-in ceremony for the 10 executive councillors and two deputy chief ministers yesterday, Chow said that he was made to understand that the directive was issued by the state secretariat to the protocol division.
It was a routine order for dress code but apparently the insertion on the need to don a songkok in the invitation circular was not clearly defined, and so some guests to the event may have overlooked it, he said after a question was posed to him about the incident.
Chow was earlier present at the official launching of the new Penang ferry catamaran service by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
He agreed with the assertion that previously the wearing of a songkok was not compulsory in ceremonies for those attending as guests.
Usually, those who wear the headgear are wearing baju Melayu or formal ceremonial garb for the occasion.
For example, those attending the state awards presentations in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertua Negri’s annual investiture ceremonies do not need to wear a songkok if they are wearing a lounge suit.
Yesterday, guests arriving at the Penang government’s ceremony for the swearing-in of the new executive councillors 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 guests, who came to 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 executive councillors and state government-linked company employees 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 shop workers.
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). – The Vibes, August 17, 2023
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