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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright February 2023
“Clothing doesn’t really change a man. But it changes how others react to him.” — Brandon Sanderson
In case of a certain Karen who was wearing shorts at a police station, it changed how the policemen reacted to her. She was refused entry at a police station because the policeman at the counter told her she was not properly attired.
You cannot fight a policeman who goes by the book. There is a policy which states that anyone doing official business with a government agency must be properly attired. Be it Immigration, Education or the Police. Many have been turned away previously for not being decently dressed.
That reminds me of another recent incident where a gentleman arrived at the Royal Lake Club Bunga Raya Restaurant for a yee sang dinner unaware of some decorum that has become part of the club's legacy.
Although this club founded in August 16, 1890 has done away with many traditions established by the British some practices remain. The restaurant insists that a male diner must wear a collared shirt and slacks.
However, when a guest arrived in a round neck T-shirt and shorts he was not denied entry. Instead, a manager approached him with a clean long sleeved batik shirt and a sarong and requested him to put them on.
It drew a round of laughter but the dinner went well and nobody was disappointed. In fact I saw the whole table stood up and had a group photo taken to commemorate the occasion with the guest in his long sleeved batik and sarong in the centre of the ten people holding up a glass of Chinese tea with a broad smile.
This was a second tradition encountered by the same guest when he was in Kuala Lumpur that impressed him to no end.
Earlier in the day he visited the National Mosque, not too far away from the Royal Lake Club. He was in shorts and was told that he was not allowed inside the mosque because he was not properly attired.
However, he was not turned away but was politely led to a robing room where he was given a jubbah to put on to join the group he was with to tour the mosque without any fuss.
Back to the story of Karen at the Kajang police station who said, “I was wearing Bermudas that covered my knees." Obviously, Bermudas are shorts and may not be suitable for government business because it did not cover her ankles. (Focus Malaysia)
She was there merely to lodge a report of an accident that affected her. The accident was bad enough but to be turned away by the police force that existed to help its citizens was something out of the ordinary.
She was not there to have a meal like at a 133 year old club with an established tradition or tour the police station like our guest who was in shorts at the National Mosque because all visitors ought to cover their aurat in a holy Islamic house of worship.
She was there only to report an accident and she was turned away because her shorts covered her knees and that did not meet guidelines.
News report say the officer was adamant and refused to listen to her reason that she would have to travel some distance to change.
“It was ridiculous. How can they deny me the right to lodge a report unless I change my clothes? He told me he didn’t care and that even ministers wouldn’t be allowed to enter (if they were dressed that way).” (Focus Malaysia)
According to reports, Karen had an accident with a truck earlier near her home in Batu Sembilan, Cheras. She and the truck driver went to the Batu Sembilan police station to lodge a report but were told to do so at the Kajang police station instead. The first station had not reprimanded her over what she was wearing. That left her wondering why she was turned away at the Kajang police station.
Since she was getting nowhere with the officer, Karen called her sister to bring her a pair of pants. She did not say where she changed but was eventually allowed entry after putting on her pants. (Focus Malaysia)
You see what Brandon Sanderson meant when he said “Clothing doesn’t really change a man. But it changes how others react to him?"
In all the three instances above the actors were themselves in the confort of their clothing. But in the eyes of the restaurant manager, the mosque tour guide and the policeman the reactions were different because of a pair of shorts or Bermudas!
The only difference is that the restaurant and the mosque were cutomer friendly. But the police station was not. The first two entities were willing to serve the customers and were accommodating but the third was reluctant to do so and unfortunately unfriendly too.
The restaurant was ready with a batik shirt and a piece of sarong for the uninformed guest while the mosque provided jubbah to wayward visitors but the police station that was meant to serve the public was left wanting.
Isn't it about time that we in the spirit of masyrakat Madani have long clean coats ready in the robing room of police stations for our very own citizens to cloak their bodies in during an emergency to accommodate the policemen at the counter while taking a report from behind their desks?
But for all Karens, be reminded of what Edith Head said, "You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it".
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