Gobind: Police Cannot Deny Public Access to Lodge Reports Based on Attire

Kuala Lumpur: Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called on the police to ensure that no individual is denied the right to lodge a report due to their attire, stressing that such practices undermine public trust and obstruct justice.

In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 9), Gobind urged the Inspector-General of Police to issue a clear, nationwide directive to guarantee that all victims and complainants are allowed to report accidents or crimes regardless of how they are dressed.

“People don’t dress up in anticipation of crime. Attire cannot and must not be used as a basis to deny someone their legal right to lodge a police report,” he said.

He emphasized that what matters most is that an incident has occurred and needs immediate action. Gobind added that he would raise the matter with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and request a review of existing guidelines that may restrict public access to police stations.

“All police stations must remain accessible at all times. The police have no authority to impose unilateral or unreasonable standards on the public,” he said.

Gobind, who is also a lawyer, condemned the recent incident in Melaka where a woman and her daughter were allegedly turned away from the Jasin district police headquarters due to their attire while attempting to report a road accident.

He stressed that police stations are meant to serve the public and facilitate crime reporting as required by law.

“Denying someone the right to file a report simply because of their clothing is not just inappropriate; it is an abuse of authority and an obstruction of justice,” he added.

He said officers should prioritize helping victims document incidents, not denying them entry.

Melaka Police Chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar had earlier confirmed that an internal inquiry was launched following the incident. He said the officers were following a dress code based on a 2020 circular issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government.

The woman involved had told local media that she and her daughter were travelling from Johor to Kuala Lumpur when their vehicle was rear-ended along KM174.8 of the North-South Expressway. When attempting to file a report, she was stopped because her skirt was slightly above the knee.

Gobind stressed that incidents like these must not recur, and clear guidelines are needed to ensure the public’s right to access police services is never compromised.