Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban (
pic) on Thursday has backed SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting’s criticism of the Inland Revenue Board’s (IRB) dress-code enforcement, calling it culturally insensitive and unacceptable in the state.
He said Sarawakians will not tolerate any form of moral policing or “cultural arrogance” from any government department, whether federal or state.
Peter criticised the IRB Miri branch for denying service to members of the public based on their clothing, saying the move signalled an attempt to impose Peninsular-style moral standards on Sarawakians.
He said IRB was not the first agency to do so, citing complaints involving Road Transportation Department (RTD), the police and the Companies Commission of Malaysia, where individuals were turned away for attire deemed “inappropriate.”
Peter said similar incidents in hospitals and clinics in West Malaysia reflected a wider pattern of federal agencies enforcing arbitrary, non-statutory dress codes at the expense of public access to essential services.
He stressed that Sarawak’s multicultural society, with more than 34 ethnic groups, should not be subjected to external notions of “proper attire” that do not reflect the state’s identity or way of life.
Peter urged a firm stand against such practices, saying no Sarawakian should be denied service or humiliated at public counters simply because of their clothing.
