Recently, a woman was turned away at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) for not adhering to the dress code.
“I went to JPJ in Ipoh at around 10 am on Tuesday 13th July but was turned away because I was wearing a sleeveless dress.
“What is wrong with the dress that I am wearing? When has JPJ started moral policing?
In Malaysia, as of 2024, the dress code for government offices and facilities remains somewhat inconsistent and subject to interpretation, which has led to several incidents where members of the public have been denied entry based on their attire.
There is no official national ruling that explicitly bans sleeveless dresses or specific attire like shorts for visitors in all government offices. However, enforcement of dress codes can vary depending on the location and the discretion of the security personnel.
This is in direct contradiction with what the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who in 2015 said, that there is no dress code for the public when dealing with government departments and agencies, adding that those dressed “inappropriately” will be allowed in.
She said only public officers were subjected to dress code rulings.
“As such, the public can wear appropriate clothing in line with traditional and eastern values when dealing with government departments.”
