Sebastian Ting Urges IRB To Respect Sarawak Culture In Dress Code Enforcement

suppadmin | December 2, 2025

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party Secretary General Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew has expressed concern over the Inland Revenue Board’s dress code enforcement at the Miri Urban Transformation Centre.

Ting said any regulations imposed by federal agencies in Sarawak must respect the state’s multicultural characteristics and should not hinder public services through rigid or unreasonable rules that inconvenience the public.

He stressed that the Inland Revenue Board is a federal agency and its strict dress code requirement does not reflect the administrative culture or daily realities of Sarawak government agencies. He emphasised that the dress code is an internal directive of the federal agency and not a policy of the Sarawak Government. He said this clarification is necessary to avoid public misunderstanding.

“Sarawak has thirty four ethnic groups with different lifestyles and cultural backgrounds. Federal agencies must understand and respect this diversity,” he said.

Ting added that for decades, even before the formation of Malaysia in nineteen sixty three, Sarawakians were never denied entry into government premises simply because of their attire. He said Sarawakians have always lived in peace and harmony with deep mutual respect among all ethnic groups, and this social fabric should not be disrupted by externally imposed standards that do not reflect Sarawak’s realities.

He acknowledged that dressing appropriately is a basic courtesy, but said most people visit government agencies out of necessity. Denying entry based on attire disrupts their work and personal responsibilities and goes against the principle of people friendly public service.

“The core spirit of public service is people first. Any regulation must prioritise public convenience rather than create obstacles,” he said.

Ting urged federal agencies in Sarawak to adopt regulations that are sensitive to local norms instead of applying West Malaysian practices wholesale. He said any dress code should consider Sarawak’s cultural context and should not be enforced in a rigid or uniform manner.

“We do not welcome this form of federal imposition. We strongly urge the Inland Revenue Board to revert to the previous practice which had never caused any problem throughout our history,” he said.

Ting said Sarawak has long upheld the values of inclusiveness, harmony, and multicultural coexistence and federal agencies should uphold these principles to ensure their policies align with local culture.

He added that Sarawakians dealing with federal agencies must be treated fairly, professionally, and with respect. He said SUPP will continue to monitor the situation and engage with the relevant parties to ensure that public service delivery remains effective and people oriented.