Media Statement
oleh Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Sunday): DAP regrets the remarks by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that all policewomen must wear the tudung when they take part in official parades whereas  the tudung is optional when performing daily duties. Instead of correcting the mistake made by IGP Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Omar, the Prime Minister has chosen to endorse it. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Forcing all policewomen to wear the tudung for official parades is confusing the basic police duty of law enforcement with government public policy that Malaysia is an Islamic state. However the IGP chooses to explain the rationale of making the wearing of tudung compulsory, this will be seen as another exercise of Islamisation aimed at instilling Islamic values in attire to conform with Malaysia being an Islamic state.

Such questions of whether Malaysia is an Islamic state contrary to our Federal Constitution that clearly spells out the secular nature of our 1957 Merdeka social contract, should be left to political leaders. The police force should concentrate on the duty of law enforcement and not involve itself in policy matters outside its jurisdiction.

If the police was directed by the Ministry of Internal Security to do so, then it is merely following orders. But to come out with such a directive on its own volition without any pressure or directive from the Internal Security Ministry is clearly a departure from its statutory duty of law enforcement.

DAP regrets that the Prime Minister has chosen to support this unfair ruling even though it goes against his assurances that fairness and justice to all races and religions are the core values of his administration and Islam hadhari. DAP hopes that both MCA and Gerakan can prove their opposition clearly in Cabinet, Parliament and State Assemblies and not surrender and support this ruling when the Prime Minister has spoken.

What benefit to the people and the police or how does it improve the effort to reduce the crime rate if policewomen all wear tudung? Or are policewomen in greater danger or exposed to unwarranted “attention” by not wearing the tudung, even though they have been trained to protect the public and themselves. Failure to explain the rationale has only led to fears that this compulsory ruling is only the first step towards making the Malaysian police force and Islamic Malaysian police force.

That is why the non-Muslim community opposes such a compulsory ruling of non-Muslim policewomen wearing the tudung as the police should be inclusive and obtain the co-operation of the public in carrying out its work. Forcing non-Muslim women to wear the tudung has caused unhappiness and may even discourage efforts to increase the number of non-Malays to join the police force, if it is seen as exclusive of non-Muslims. The police force should have inclusive polices, that is friendly to both non-Muslims and Muslims, and  not choose to cause division with such a controversy amongst  Malaysians.

(26/03/2006)