DAP leaders demand end to police dress-code barriers after accident victims turned away in Melaka

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo Poay Tiong has criticised the actions of police personnel in Melaka after a woman and her daughter involved in a road accident were allegedly turned away from the Jasin district police headquarters because they were wearing a “pant-skirt”. - Bernama file pic, December 9, 2025


DAP leaders demand end to police dress-code barriers after accident victims turned away in Melaka



Gobind Singh Deo and Khoo Poay Tiong call for urgent SOP reforms after a woman and her daughter were denied entry to a police station over their attire



A. Azim Idris
Updated 8 seconds ago
9 December, 2025
7:54 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR — Two senior DAP leaders, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, have criticised the actions of police personnel in Melaka after a woman and her daughter involved in a road accident were allegedly turned away from the Jasin district police headquarters because they were wearing a “pant-skirt”.

Gobind said police stations are meant to safeguard the public and ensure that reports of crimes and accidents — which are legally required in many instances — can be made without obstruction.

“Denying a person the right to file a police report because of how they are dressed is not just an abuse of authority but is also obstruction of justice,” he said.

“The immediate and primary focus of the police officer on duty should have been to assist the victims in recording the details of the incident and not turning them away as in this case.”

He urged the Inspector-General of Police to issue clear instructions ensuring that no individual seeking to report an accident or crime is denied access on the basis of attire.

“People don’t dress up in anticipation of crime,” he said, stressing that what matters is the urgency of the incident, not the clothing of those seeking help.

Gobind added that he would raise the matter with the Home Minister and push for a review of all SOPs that restrict access to police stations, emphasising that such incidents must not recur.

Khoo likewise described the episode as an example of excessive bureaucracy and a failure by frontline personnel to follow ministerial directives.

“I am shocked and disappointed by the recent incident in Melaka where a female driver, after being involved in a car accident, was denied entry into a police station due to her attire,” he said.

He reminded officers that Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had already stated in 2023: “The police must accept reports from the public, regardless of what the person is wearing.”

Khoo said dress codes in government agencies were intended for formal settings — such as official meetings or ceremonies — and should not apply to counter services that assist the public with emergencies, payments or basic enquiries. “Imposing these dress codes on ordinary government counter services is entirely unreasonable,” he said.

He questioned whether victims of robbery or trauma would also be subjected to clothing scrutiny before being allowed to report a case. Khoo said he plans to table amendments in Parliament to clarify dress-code guidelines and exempt all frontline counter services — particularly police reporting and emergency assistance — from such requirements.

Earlier, Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the incident occurred at around 5pm and that investigations were launched after receiving a complaint.

He confirmed that the woman and her daughter had arrived at the Jasin district police headquarters to file a report on a road accident.

He said the officer on duty had asked them to return home and change into attire deemed more appropriate. “This was because both women were not injured,” he said.

According to Dzulkhairi, the pair returned at 5.40pm in different clothing and were then allowed to lodge their report without further issue.

He said the public is expected to follow dress-code guidelines at police report counters, though exceptions may be made for emergencies requiring immediate attention.

The woman later told a Chinese-language daily that she was unhappy about being prevented from lodging a report solely because she was wearing a skirt above the knee. – December 9, 2025

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Sack those arrogant incompetent public servants