“DRESSING right for the occasion” or “unwanted busy bodies acting as moral police” – opinions were divided over a photograph purportedly snapped at the Bayan Lepas Health Clinic in Penang.
According to Threader nia.clau_dia, health providers should be more sensitive by highlighting the proper dress code to patients.
What seems to have offended this poster’s sensitivities was a young lady’s hemline that was gasp above the knees and a tank top that revealed her belly button.
“This was a government clinic, not a golf club,” he grumbled. “If other Chinese and Indian patients can dress accordingly, why can’t you?”
When admonished, it was claimed the fashionista simply ignored her, prompting the infuriated poster to urge netizens to viral the image to raise awareness.
The post has generated 3.3K likes, 477 comments, 341 re-posts and 98 shares with many Malaysians keen to share their two sen on the matter. However, opinions on the matter were divided.
Firstly, it was pointed out that taking photographs at clinics, hospitals and health facilities of any sort – public or otherwise – was strictly prohibited by law.
Some understanding was also necessary as people may be tending to kin in an emergency situation where dress codes are not at the forefront of their minds.
The poster was also accused of attention grabbing a.k.a. rage-bait by asking this image be viralled. “Just mind your own business” was the clear message here.
This prohibition was repeated by another observer who cautioned that the poster risked getting a summons from the Health Ministry (MOH).
Taking a similar stance, a commenter sarcastically applauded this poster’s hawk-like observations on dress codes and race relations while typing out an essay, a feat more astute than the doctors on call.
“If there was a medication to cure busybodies of their affliction, it’d be a best-seller,” he added.
It was also surmised that it was fine as long as the young lady was wearing some clothing. Furthermore, as she is a non-Muslim, “just let it be” was the advice from this nonchalant observer.
On the flipside, however, there were plenty who took issue with what they perceive as a lack of decorum when visiting government offices and health clinics. A lack of common sense was a frequently used description for the offending female.
Comparing the dress code to prohibition on smoking and vaping, this commenter opined that it was as if the country had descended into lawlessness.
One irate civil servant complained that she once admonished a visitor regarding this issue but was told not do so by a Chinese colleague who warned she could fall foul of SISPAA.
“So what if it’s true?” she grumbled back at her colleague, noting that this was why the public pay little heed to government rules and regulations.
Editor’s note – The Public Complaints Management System a.k.a. SISPAA is the official integrated online platform used by the Malaysian government to allow the public to submit feedback, inquiries, complaints, or suggestions regarding government services.
The threat of SISPAA was indeed real as testified by another government employee who refused an inappropriately attired citizen from collecting a letter from a police station.
Apparently, the citizen had travelled across state borders but this officer saw no problem from deterring entry based on dress code and not public convenience.
On the one hand, there are those who vehemently insist on proper dressing when visiting government buildings. It has been contended that it really isn’t too much to ask that a simple dress code be adhered to.
On the other, there are those who firmly feel that a person’s attire is nobody else’s business. So long as it is within the parameters of the law (ie not indecent), Malaysians should take a chill pill and not get overly worked up at the sight of shorts, skirts or tank tops at government departments.
After all, attire itself is NOT indicative of a person’s character. “It’s 2026, time to upgrade one’s mindset”, chided one 21st century inhabitant.
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