Forcing Tan to wear sarong is unwarranted

PETALING JAYA - The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) said refusing to provide service and forcing Tan to wear a sarong was unwarranted and unprofessional.

“Such mistreatment is reflective of the growing conservatism in Malaysia which seeks to police the dressing and behaviour of ordinary Malaysians.

“While it is acceptable to have a dress code for religious houses such as mosques or temples, the Government on the other hand has no business adopting such stringent dress codes,” said JAG in a statement endorsed by eight women’s groups, which included Sisters In Islam, Association of Women Lawyers and Women’s Aid Organi-sation.

JAG called on the Government to end “this unnecessary moral policing” by removing stringent dress codes – especially those that are tied to narrow and arbitrary definitions of modesty.