KUCHING: The Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) has expressed concern over the enforcement of the Inland Revenue Board’s (IRB) dress code at the Miri Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).
SUPP secretary-general and Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew said federal agencies operating in Sarawak must respect the state’s multicultural environment.
He stressed that such enforcement should never create rigid or unreasonable rules that inconvenience the public or hinder essential government services meant to assist the community.
“The IRB’s strict dress code is an internal directive of the federal agency and not a Sarawak government policy or regulation,” he said in a press statement on Tuesday (Dec 2).
He noted that Sarawak, home to 34 ethnic groups, has diverse cultural backgrounds and attire that differ significantly from norms found in other parts of Malaysia.
“Federal agencies must understand and respect Sarawak’s unique social context to avoid imposing practices that do not reflect the state’s way of life.”
He pointed out that historically, even before Malaysia’s formation in 1963, Sarawakians were never denied entry to government premises based on attire alone.
Ting said Sarawak’s long record of peace, harmony, and mutual respect across ethnic groups must not be disrupted by external standards unfamiliar to local communities.
He acknowledged that appropriate dressing in government offices is basic courtesy but stressed that most people visit such agencies out of genuine necessity.
Denying entry due to attire, he said, disrupts personal commitments, work responsibilities, and contradicts the principle of a public service designed to assist citizens.
He urged federal agencies operating in Sarawak to adopt rules sensitive to local norms instead of applying West Malaysian practices without considering cultural differences.
“Any dress code must align with Sarawak’s day-to-day realities and should not be enforced in an overly rigid or uniform manner.”
Ting added that Sarawakians do not welcome this form of federal imposition and called on the IRB to revert to previous, problem-free practices immediately.
He said Sarawak has always upheld inclusiveness, harmony, and multicultural coexistence, values federal agencies must respect when serving the state’s diverse population.
Ting affirmed that Sarawakians engaging with federal agencies deserve fair, professional, and respectful treatment, with SUPP continuing to monitor developments closely.
