KUALA LUMPUR: Dress code for Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) upcoming convocation ceremony has received flak from social media users.
Yesterday, a poster bearing the university's emblem on the dress code advisories for the convocation ceremony went viral on social media platforms.
Depicted in the poster was the acceptable and unacceptable attire to be worn during the ceremony for both male and female graduates.
However, what irked the social media users was the section of prohibited clothing which listed the traditional dresses for Chinese and Indian women, namely the cheongsam and saree alongside a short-sleeved blouse and knee-length skirt.
Former UKM Demokrat coordinator Durrah Malek who will be attending the convocation ceremony felt that the university was not being considerate and inclusive of those who are not Malays.
"I think that as a national university, UKM should practise more inclusivity and is sensitive to issues such as dress codes.
"It seems that UKM tends to be Malay-centric in its interpretation of 'national', which isn't exactly how they should be. National means it's for all Malaysians," she said when contacted by New Straits Times.
Wan Ikmal Shafeeq, an alumni of the university also said that the university administration should have issued a clearer infographic regarding the dress code for the convocation day and that they need to be more sensitive to matters related to the traditions and culture of other ethnics.
"The allowed dress code was seen as too Malay-centric and the situation worsens when the wearing of saree and cheongsam is listed in the prohibited dress code.
"This kind of misinformation ends up causing misunderstandings, thus raising issues that offend racial sensitivities," he said.
Checks on UKM's website indicated that the initial poster that went viral was taken down and New Straits Times has since reached out to the university's corporate communications department for comments.