KUCHING, Feb 7: Customer dress code requirements should be eliminated entirely at police stations, says Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan.
She was responding to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani’s recent remark who insisted that the public must follow a government dress code at police stations, except in ‘life or death’ emergencies.
“The honorable responsibilities of the police are to protect and serve the public. Therefore, the police shouldn’t be burdened with the added responsibility of first determining the complainant’s dress code then classifying the severity of complaint received before allowing any complainant to lodge a report.
“I do agree in general that proper attire is required when entering government buildings for official duties and functions.
“However, a dress code shouldn’t be applied to service counters and stations that handle complaints and emergency cases such as the police station, fire departments and clinics,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Hence, Kho urged lawmakers to revise the dress code requirement at government buildings that service the public on a daily basis, especially during an emergency so that civil servants can serve the public efficiently by focusing on real matters instead of a dress code. — DayakDaily
