Malaysian Cabinet orders immediate dress code reform at police stations after public backlash

In response to mounting public criticism, Malaysia’s Cabinet has ordered an immediate overhaul of dress code regulations at police stations nationwide.

This follows a widely publicised case in which a woman was reportedly denied access to lodge a police report at the Jasin District Police Headquarters in Melaka for wearing a skirt deemed too short.

The incident occurred on 8 December, 2025, when two women arrived at the police station to report a road accident. According to Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar, they were not injured and were advised by the officer on duty to return home to change into more appropriate attire in accordance with existing guidelines.

The woman returned later that evening, at approximately 5:40pm, in more modest clothing and was allowed to lodge her report without further issue. The case, however, sparked significant online debate and criticism, prompting a swift policy reversal.

Communications Minister and government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil addressed the issue during a press conference in Parliament on 10 December.

According to Malaysiakini, he stated that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim views access to police services as “non-negotiable,” particularly in matters of public safety and security.

“From the prime minister’s perspective, when it comes to security issues, there should not be any situation that prevents people from lodging a police report,” said Fahmi.

To address this, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, has been tasked with reviewing and revising the current 2020 circular that outlines appropriate attire at government premises.

Fahmi clarified that essential frontline services — including police stations and health agencies — will be exempted from these dress code requirements moving forward.

“The chief secretary’s office will examine the matter in detail, and a new directive will be issued soon,” he said.

The government’s decision represents a notable shift from the position reiterated just one day prior by Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar, who had defended the enforcement of attire rules under the 2020 guidelines. He emphasised that exceptions were only made in emergencies, and the officer involved had followed protocol.

In his statement, Dzulkhairi explained that the officer advised the women to return home to change because their situation was not classified as urgent or life-threatening. He reaffirmed the Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) commitment to ensuring public comfort while upholding civil service standards.

The backlash was fuelled by widespread frustration over the application of dress code policies in non-critical situations. Social media users and advocacy groups raised concerns about proportionality and access to public services.

This is not the first time dress code enforcement at government premises has drawn public scrutiny in Malaysia. In February 2023, a woman attempting to lodge a report at a police station in Kajang, Selangor, was turned away for wearing Bermuda shorts, igniting similar criticism.

Other incidents have occurred in health institutions as well. In Kampar, Perak, a hospital faced backlash after allegedly denying a woman entry due to her wearing shorts.

Such cases have repeatedly reignited national conversations around how government attire policies intersect with public rights and service accessibility.

As public sentiment leans toward greater inclusivity and sensitivity in the enforcement of regulations, the government’s decision to revise dress code guidelines signals an effort to prioritise functionality and fairness in service delivery.

The upcoming revision to the 2020 circular is expected to reinforce the principle that critical public services must remain accessible to all individuals, regardless of attire, particularly when it comes to matters of security and health.

The timeline for the new directive has not been formally announced, though Fahmi indicated that the public can expect a statement “not too long from now.”