The Ministry of Higher Education should consider coming out with a clear policy to allow university students to wear their traditional attire including those from Sabah and Sarawak to their university convocation

I believe the Ministry of Higher Education should consider coming out with a clear policy to allow university students to wear their traditional attire including those from Sabah and Sarawak to their university convocation as long as it fits the normal modesty requirements as a celebration of the richness of multiple cultures and traditions of all Malaysians.

This is in view a reported case where graduates in a local university was denied wearing their traditional Kadazan Dusun and Bidayuh attire during their convocation. They were asked to changed half-way through the convocation and given a fine for it.

Currently we are also in the Kaamatan and Gawai festive season and it would have been an amazing opportunity for the graduates to display their cultures and pride during one of the most important days in their life which is their university convocation.

I believe that is why universities should consider allowing all these traditional attires and be considered as “baju kebangsaan” so that it can be worn during the convocation as long as it fits the reasonable modesty requirements as a celebration of our cultures and diversity including those for Sabah and Sarawak.

Universities should be a place where we celebrate diversity and break down walls that divide us all. It is also a place that should encourage its students to be proud of their traditions and culture where- ever they are from.