Making ‘songkok’ compulsory to all: Penang should never pander to unthinking attire requirements
I have a strange feeling that some junior bureaucrats might have taken on themselves without consultation with their superiors to come out with the attire directive.
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy, Focus Malaysia
IN ANY official ceremonies of whether at the state or federal level, there might be requirement to wear formal attire whether for those directly involved or participating as guests.
Some would even argue that wearing a songkok for men or wearing baju kurung for women are Malay in nature and not having religious connotations.
However, to impose the ruling of songkok or baju kurung on those not directly involved in the official events is something else.
For those who don’t see this as an imposition, then it is not an issue. If the directive is not made clear to the members of the media and the public, then it becomes an issue.
I am not sure whether the requirement of songkok is something that officially endorsed by the state government in the form of an official gazette.
When I was the member of the state government, I found it not a problem to wear the songkok – the official attire of the first dress – during the ceremonies officiated by the governor of the state.
In the opening of the state assembly, we had to wear the official attire of the first dress with the songkok. It was not an issue for me, although the imposition reeked of a cultural requirement.
Little Napoleons
Even the present Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow seems mildly disturbed by the songkok requirement for not the participants but also guests including members of the media, well-wishers and the public.
In the actual invitation letter that was sent to the public, the songkok requirement was not highlighted but stated in non-conspicuous manner that might not have caught the attention of the guests.
In the past when I was with the state government, this was not issue with the members of the media and the invited public.
Maybe there was no such requirement. But now I am not sure whether such a requirement was imposed this year and whether it was endorsed by the Penang state executive council earlier before the state elections.
Anyway, Chow – in all fairness – has asked the Penang state secretary for a full report on the matter.
