KUCHING: Government departments must focus on quality service delivery instead of being preoccupied with the attire of the public, said business leader Datuk Jonathan Chai.

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sarawak (Acccis) secretary-general opined that decency of attire is a very subjective matter.

“I think the focus of government departments should be on delivery of services and not be too preoccupied or obsessed with the attire of the public.

“Who are we to judge whether wearing shorts should cover our knees. Of course, I think any reasonable person would be sensible enough not to wear something which is indecent or overexposed in public,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

He was asked to comment on Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani’s remarks that anyone going to a police station should keep to the fifth principle of the Rukun Negera of ‘Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan’ (courtesy and morality) by dressing approriately.

The IGP added that the only time an exception could made would be in a ‘life or death’ situation.

Chai recalled that in 2015, the then minister in the prime minister’s department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said clarified in Parliament that there was no enforceable or statutory dress code for the public when it comes to government departments and agencies.

“In short, the dress code is just a guideline and cannot be enforced as law. This should be made clear to all personnel in the civil sector – that services to the public should not be denied based on attire,” Chai said.

He added he was grateful that such an issue – to his knowledge – had never occurred in Sarawak and seemed to be confined only to the peninsula.

“I think the concept of tolerance and inclusivity should be put into practice in our daily living and more so in our civil service,” he said.