KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 ― The Education Ministry has not issued any directive barring non-Muslim students from wearing the baju kurung, its minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin clarified today.

Speaking after a complaint where a non-Muslim girl was blocked from a school for wearing the traditional Malay costume, Muhyiddin reportedly clarified that the rule could have been issued by the school.

Muhyiddin said the rule would be rectified, also saying that schools should not make their own rules according to their wishes.

“We will speak to the school authorities and correct this ruling so that it is in accordance to the regulations set by the ministry,” Muhyiddin, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, was quoted saying by The Star’s online portal.

Today, Malay Mail reported that a secondary school student named Britney Nicole claimed to have been barred from entering SMK Seri Mutiara in Cheras for going against its dress code by wearing a baju kurung uniform.

The Sarawakian native from the Lun Bawang tribe claimed she was given a “final warning” that she would not be given entry into class unless she wore a pinafore, also saying that she now feels scared to go to school.

Britney’s aunt and guardian Agnes Padan also claimed that her niece was told to wear a pinafore as she was not a Malay, while school rules allegedly also said Malay female students would wear baju kurung.

Malay Mail’s attempts yesterday to contact the school authorities for comments were not successful.

Deputy Education Minister II P. Kamalanathan said yesterday that the school had no right to impose the rule that baju kurung is exclusively for Muslim students, also saying that action will be taken if the ministry’s investigations finds the incident to be true.