Putrajaya reminded against exporting peninsula dress code policing culture to Borneo states

VOCAL Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban has echoed the recent statement by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting that the recent Inland Revenue Board’s (LHDN) enforcement of dress codes is culturally insensitive and unacceptable in the state.

The community group Saya Anak Sarawak founder sternly rejected such moral policing attempt by stating that Sarawak will not tolerate any form of cultural arrogance or administrative bullying from any federal or state department.

“The latest action by the Miri branch LHDN to deny service by virtue of one’s clothing is not just an isolated misstep,” lambasted Jaban.

“It’s a dangerous signal that Federal agencies feel entitled to impose Peninsula‑styled moral policing on Sarawakians.

“Sarawak is a sovereign partner in the formation of Malaysia – not a branch office that can be told how to dress, how to behave, or how to perform our daily lives according to rules imported from outside our culture.”

Systemic problem

The Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity (MAJU) co-founder further lamented that although “LHDN is only the latest offender”, the incident follows a consistent pattern whereby Federal agencies operating in Sarawak “feel empowered to impose their own cultural values instead of respecting Sarawak’s diverse reality”.

Peter John Jaban

“Other departments have previously attempted to enforce arbitrary, non-statutory dress codes on the public,” claimed Jaban, pointing to:

• The Road Transport Department (JPJ) turning away members of the public for sleeveless attire or shorts;
• Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) denying entry to individuals from lodging police reports because officers claimed their attire was “inappropriate”; and
• Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) whereby there were complaints of women  being refused service due to dress‑code enforcement by security personnel.

“There’ve already been multiple cases in West Malaysia where hospital and clinic staff enforced dress codes by turning people away or limiting access to essential services. This is not a dress‑code issue but a power issue,” berated Jaban who is the deputy president of NGO Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF).

What LHDN did is not about professionalism. It’s about control. It’s about enforcing a moral standard that doesn’t reflect Sarawak’s culture, identity or way of life.

Sarawak is home to more than 34 ethnic groups with different attire, customs and weather‑appropriate clothing. No agency has the authority to humiliate Sarawakians or deny them essential services for wearing what is normal and acceptable in Sarawak.

If we allow one department to get away with this, others will follow and soon Sarawak will be subjected to a creeping form of moral policing that was never ours to begin with.

Sarawak must draw a clear line that such treatment of our people will not be tolerated in our state. Sarawakians should never be judged, denied service or belittled because of their attire. Public counters exist to serve the people not to lecture them on clothing.” 

 - Focus Malaysia