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KUCHING, June 4: The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) should come out with a clear policy to allow university students to wear traditional attire to convocations as long as it meets modesty standards, says Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
Dr Yii emphasised that university students wearing traditional attire to convocations celebrate Malaysians’ diverse cultures and traditions.
“This is in view of a reported case where graduates in a local university were denied wearing their traditional Kadazan Dusun and Bidayuh attire during their convocation.
“They were asked to change halfway through the convocation and given a fine for it,” he said in a statement issued today.
He continued, “Currently, we are also in the Kaamatan and Gawai festive seasons, and it would have been an incredible opportunity for the graduates to showcase their cultures and sense of pride on one of the most significant days of their lives.”
Dr Yii believes that universities should consider allowing all traditional attire to be considered ‘baju kebangsaan’ so that they can be worn during convocation as long as they meet the reasonable modesty requirements as a celebration of the nation’s cultures and diversity, including those for Sarawak and Sabah.
“Universities should be where we celebrate diversity and break down walls that divide us all.
“It is also a place that should encourage its students to be proud of their traditions and culture wherever they are from,” he added. — DayakDaily
