Dress code in government agencies only for civil servants

KUALA LUMPUR: The dress code at all government agencies is only applicable to civil servants and not for the public.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said as of now there is no specific dress code stipulated for the public to follow when visiting any government agencies.
She said only the civil servants were bound by the dress code at their workplaces and it would be updated from time to time.
"The public can dress appropriately according to clothing the eastern tradition values when visiting government offices and agencies.
"However government officers would still attend to the public even if they are not appropriately dressed at the offices," Azalina said in a parliamentary written reply to Datuk Dr Makin @Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) today.
Makin had asked if the government has set a dress code for the public to deal with government departments or agencies; the form of action taken if they failed to abide by it; and the people's reaction to it.
Azalina also said the head of the agency or department can advise those deemed inappropriately dressed accordingly for future visits.
Several incidents had occurred where government offices, including the Defence Ministry, Public Service Department, hospitals and Road Transport Department placed a certain dress code and refused to allow or entertain the public, especially women who did not follow the specific dress codes.
The matter swelled after the aggrieved parties took it to the social media to express their dissatisfaction with several posts going viral.
In one of the incidents, a women was forced to wear a sarong (to cover her legs) by the security guards of the RTD otherwise she would not be attended to.
Several non-governmental organisations and even politicians had since criticised the ban while netizens strongly condemned it, some labeling it as ridiculous.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye had since called for a special committee to be set up review dress code guidelines as the existing ones were viewed as no longer relevant.
He said the establishment of the committee would put an end to the controversy.
Lee, who is also a social activist said the study was important to enable the government to hear the views of various quarters.