Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has told police that they must take reports from the public regardless of how the person lodging them is dressed.

He said his ministry did not condone the recent act of a police sentry refusing to allow a woman entry into a police station because she was deemed to have been dressed inappropriately.

"There should no compromise on the (police's) readiness to accept reports (from the public). Last year, 3.5 million reports were lodged at police stations nationwide," he said at a media engagement programme here on Wednesday.

He, however, reminded the public to be modestly dressed whenever they enter government premises.

Earlier this month, a woman was reported to have gone to the Kajang police headquarters to lodge a report on a road accident, but was denied entry because she was dressed "inappropriately".

Kajang police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaid Hassan had said the sentry did not allow her to enter the station after noticing she was wearing thigh-length shorts.

The woman was advised to change her shorts, but she refused to comply.

However, upon advising her again, she left and returned about 15 to 20 minutes later, wearing long pants.

The news earned brickbats from Malaysians, including former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who said it was the duty of police to accept reports from people regardless of their attire.

He had said how a person was dressed when lodging a report should not be a problem as the main issue was that they needed the police's help.

"No one will go to the police station to make a report unless they have to. They need the police's help. It is not just for cases of life and death. So, it does not matter how one is dressed," he had said.

The Kajang incident was not the only incident to have caught public attention.

A woman, who sought treatment at the Kampar Hospital was also reported to have been turned away by a medical officer due to her "improper" attire.

On another matter, Saifuddin said 20 companies would be given permission to import fireworks and firecrackers.

He said the ministry had listed 47 types of fireworks and firecrackers deemed safe for use, per the authorities' screening.

"We are open to other companies applying for the import permit."

Earlier this month, the cabinet agreed to legalise fireworks and firecrackers to put a halt to the smuggling of these items.

On body cameras for police, Saifuddin said his ministry was finalising the specifications for the devices and had a RM30
million allocation to procure them.

Present were Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/02/880727/saifuddin-ignore-attire-accept-reports-public