Storm over 'selendang': We need to promote unity better - Yeoh

Storm over 'selendang': We need to promote unity better - Yeoh

Published: Mar 8, 2024 9:39 AM


Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said Malaysia needs to work on promoting unity after she was questioned for wearing a “selendang” (headscarf) at a meeting at Monash University in Australia, as part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s entourage.

She explained that before the meeting on Monday, she had attended an event at Al-Taqwa College, an Islamic school in Melbourne, where women were requested to cover their heads.

As representatives from Monash University arrived early, not wanting to be late, Yeoh said he had no time to redo her hair, thus leading to the decision to keep her “selendang” on.

"It was a simple decision and it grieves me that a decision based on my personal grooming preferences needs to be explained on my Facebook.

"As a woman, I also do not want to appear in media photos with my hair looking messy and unkempt. Please respect my choice,” she said on Facebook yesterday.

The minister expressed hope that her decision to don the “selendang” during certain events would no longer be a contentious matter one day.

In 2021, Yeoh was criticised by party colleague Dr Boo Cheng Hau for wearing a headscarf during a visit to a mosque.

Boo likened it to an attempt to "appease the Malays”.

In a response to Boo, Yeoh, who is a Christian, said wearing a headscarf in the mosque doesn't change her beliefs.


Respect and punctuality

Elaborating on the recent issue, Yeoh explained that being part of the prime minister’s entourage requires one to arrive earlier than the premier himself.

Her schedule initially gave her 15 minutes of free time before the meeting with Monash University, adding she thought it would give her five minutes to redo her hair.

However, the meeting was then moved up by 10 minutes due to the early arrival of the university representatives, she said.

"I wore the ‘selendang’ to respect my Muslim friends at their sacred places. I chose to keep my ‘selendang’ on because I didn't want to be late for the meeting with Monash and our prime minister.

"Punctuality and protocol are very important to me,” she said.