KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — Visitors seeking assistance from Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han’s service centre may dress as they like, be it in miniskirts or sleeveless tops, as long as they are not naked, he said today amid controversy over dress codes at government buildings.

The DAP lawmaker published on his Facebook page a notice that said visitors to his service centre will not be forced to wear a sarong or towel over their outfits, featuring pictures of people in a mini skirt, a leotard, a suit, Bermuda shorts, Baju Melayu and an evening gown that it said was acceptable attire.

“You are welcome with mini skirts or pants, sleeveless and whatsoever you feel comfortable in, as long as you aren’t naked,” said the notice.

Several Facebook users, however, attacked Ng and told him to go to the Selangor state legislative assembly in just his underwear.

Ng stressed, however, that he was not encouraging people to go out in public wearing just their undergarments or swimsuits.

“Everyone should read my message carefully. As a community service centre, we will not turn down anyone who is in need of help just because of the way they dress,” the DAP assemblyman told Malay Mail Online.

“I echo what Tun M said few days ago: ‘When providing public services, anyone is welcome regardless (of) the way they dressed’,” Ng added, referring to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Singapore broadcaster Channel News Asia reported Dr Mahathir as telling a press conference last Thursday that Malaysia was behaving like Saudi Arabia with public institutions imposing dress codes on non-Muslim visitors, saying that women should be allowed to enter a government building “as long as they aren’t naked”.

Several non-Muslim women were recently stopped from entering public institutions such as a Penang courthouse, a Road Transport Department (RTD) office, the Selangor state secretariat, and even a public hospital for wearing knee-length skirts and shorts that were deemed indecent.

Some security personnel from the government departments even handed towels and sarongs to the women to cover up their legs in order to gain entry.

A man trying to retrieve his lost baggage at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport last month was also forced to don long trousers because his Bermuda shorts were deemed inappropriate.