Improper Dressing Siti Kasim Offers 2 Tips Next Time A Security Guard Bars You From Entering Gov T Office

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IF you think that you are decently dressed yet your clothing is still not good enough to fulfil the dress code of a particular government department or you are denied entry, then Siti Kasim has the right answer for you.
Aghast with civil servants going out of their way to impose their moral values on Malaysians, the human rights activist and lawyer has shared two invaluable actions that the public can pursue the next time a security guard or government officer prevented them from entering government premises (especially hospitals).
“Simply pose the question under which law that I shouldn’t dress in such manner or insist to see the big boss because usually he/she will resolve the problem (not wanting to prolong or to prevent bad publicity especially in today’s internet age),” she counselled in her latest YouTube rant.

























“Remember that guidelines are recommendations or best practices, not legally binding rules or laws as in the case of one can been penalised under the law for gross indecency by walking naked on the streets.
“While they can influence behaviour and decision-making, bear in mind that guidelines don’t carry the same weight as legal statutes or regulations … The bottom line is I hope that the government will train civil servants to use their commonsense and brains when doing their job (rather than strictly adhering to guidelines).”
Siti Kasim was addressing the viral video of woman, Khor Hooi Chin, who was barred from entering the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) office in Ipoh in March 2023 although the length of her dress was slightly above her knees.
Khor, 41, could be heard asking a male staff member which part of her attire was not presentable but the latter kept on insisting that he could not let her go to the offices on the upper floors as her dressing did not follow the guidelines.
The seafood supplier who had travelled from Pantai Remis, a coastal town in Manjung district which is about one-and-a-half hours’ drive from Ipoh, had to resort to buy a a longer skirt to wear with her original dress.

Video Player00:0001:45“In my frank opinion, there is no problem at all with the woman’s dressing,” commented Siti Kasim.
“The issue arises just because many government offices issued dress code guidelines stating that the clothing of a visitor must cover until the knee length as if seeing the knee can make one steam (slang referring to s*xual arousal).”
Delving further, the Orang Asli advocate faulted certain civil servants for being over-zealous in influencing government policies in line with moral values that are based on their religious beliefs.
“It’s fine if one wants to follow such moral value but you can’t force others who disagree with your way of thinking, including at government premises… the dress of the woman (Khor) is in no way scanty till able to arouse undesirable thoughts,” reiterated Siti Kasim.
“This reminds me of my own experience many years ago when the receptionist at the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) passed me the tudung when I was there for questioning over an apostasy issue.
“I asked the receptionist under what law am I obliged to wear the tudung to which she sheepishly answered that it’s the department’s policy.”
Another personal incident, related Siti Kasim, was when she was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur courthouse for wearing a billowy skirt which somehow exposed her knee when she walked.
“When the security guard prevented me from stepping into the court premises, I fired back by asking who are you to stop me from entering but fortunately, there was a court officer who came (to quell their argument) otherwise I would have brought the matter to the top,” she recalled.
Below is more observation from Siti Kasim over dress code guidelines which she is adamant only intended to impose moral values based on one’s religious beliefs more than anything else.
The next time you encounter such issue, question back the Little Napoleons under which law are you obliged to wear my clothing as per your guidelines.
Of course, it’s commonsense that we don’t go to government officers wearing short pants, beach wear or clubbing attire which are inappropriate but what the woman wears and based on viral videos of people barred entry into government premises, the sticky point is about adhering to moral values more than guidelines.
Why must decency be measured by the guidelines which state one’s clothing must be long enough to cover one’s knees? It’s not my problem if you’ve an issue with my knees … civil servants must buck up and think using their brains rather than solely relying on guidelines.” –  Focus Malaysia

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