By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 2: Federal agencies operating in Sarawak should adopt regulations that are sensitive to local realities rather than applying West Malaysian practices, says Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew.
He said this in response to concerns over the dress code enforcement by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) at the Miri Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).
“Any regulations enforced by federal agencies operating in Sarawak must respect Sarawak’s multicultural characteristics and ensure that public services are not hindered by rigid or unreasonable rules that inconvenience the public.
“The IRB is a federal agency, and such strict dress code requirements are not in line with the administrative culture or daily realities of Sarawak government agencies. It must be emphasised that this dress code is an internal directive of the federal agency and not a policy of the Sarawak government, to avoid public misunderstanding,” he said in a statement.
He went on to say that for decades—even before the formation of Malaysia—Sarawakians have never faced issues of being denied entry into government premises because of what they wear.
“While dressing appropriately in government offices is a basic courtesy, the vast majority of people visit these agencies out of necessity. Denying entry solely based on attire disrupts their work and personal obligations and contradicts the principle of people-friendly public service,” he said.
He added that the core spirit of public service is ‘people first’, and that any regulation or enforcement must prioritise public convenience rather than create unnecessary obstacles or inconvenience.
“We do not welcome this form of federal imposition on the people of Sarawak. We strongly urge the Inland Revenue Board to revert to the previous practice, which had never caused any problem or issue at all throughout our history.
“Sarawak has long upheld the values of inclusiveness, harmony, and multicultural coexistence. Federal agencies serving in Sarawak should adhere to these same principles to ensure that policies remain consistent with local culture,” he said.
He also said that SUPP will continue to monitor the situation and engage with relevant parties to ensure that public service delivery remains effective and people-oriented. — DayakDaily
