Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
If you hadn’t heard, Malaysian netizens have recently been sharing stories of how they had been turned away at government premises, including public hospitals and police stations, because of how they had been dressed.
This was caused by an incident that happened recently, in which a woman was turned away by the Kajang police station sentry for wearing shorts.
It has also sparked a discussion on why the rule is archaic and why it should be respected.
Well, honestly, it’s bullshit. Here’s why, in my opinion:
1. It’s Just Another Way To Control Our Bodies
There shouldn’t be a problem as long as our genitals aren’t on display in public. It’s not like Malaysians make it a habit to walk around in a bikini or anything with as much exposed skin as that.
A lot of the time, the least-dressed Malaysian you see in public will still be decently dressed by Western standards. It would probably look like shorts and a tank top at most.
Picture used for illustration only. [Source: Streetwindy on Pexels]
2. It’s A Guideline, Not A Law
This was a stance expressed by the All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) on Twitter after the Kajang police station incident.
[Source: All Women’s Action Society on Twitter]
Of course, we do our best to adhere to the guidelines for dressing. But it seems a little senseless for it to be all-encompassing. It feels pretty judgmental as well.
3. Malaysia Is Way Too Hot For It Sometimes
With the climate crisis causing climbing temperatures in the tropics, it can be impractical to be covered from head to toe. Even more so if you are one of those people who are easily affected by the heat or if you’re on medication that can increase your sensitivity to the sun (psst, that’s a thing).
Some people can walk around fully clothed from head to toe, and that’s a feat to be respected. But some of us lesser mortals really can’t do it.
And that’s not a reason why anybody should be turned away from a public service.
4. You Don’t Always Have The Time To Change First
A friend, Marina, shared about a time she rushed to a hospital in Selangor, where a sickly, much older relative was being treated. It was a serious enough case that the family thought he was going to die.
However, she was denied entry because she was wearing a sleeveless top.
Picture used for illustration only. [Source: Anna Tarazevich on Pexels]
But imagine if she wasn’t able to, and if her relative died in the meantime! Although it sounds like an extreme case, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility.
5. It’s Simply Impractical
In a tweet by Twitter user @Mayna_Patel, the original poster (OP) talks about having accompanied a domestic abuse survivor to a police station, where she was barred from entering because of the length of her skirt, despite it going below her knees.
[Source: Mayna Patel on Twitter]
The OP put it succinctly when she said:
“Everyone has the right to make a police report, despite what they are wearing and what language they speak.” To deny them that right is to deny their right to access justice.”
[Source: Mayna Patel on Twitter]
At the end of the day, how someone is dressed should not exclude them from being able to use a public service.
Because if not, does that really make the service public? Or is it only a public service to those who have the fortune to always be appropriately dressed?
Public services are meant to provide a benefit to society, and it feels like adding these extra steps to everyone’s routine just makes it all cumbersome.
Ultimately, dress codes belong to a backwards line of thinking (in my opinion), and Malaysia should be looking forward to progress.
While it is true that we ought to dress more modestly since “it’s Malaysia,” in some instances, such as having to go to a police station to make a police report, common sense should prevail.
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