KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul is mulling a necktie exemption for the next Parliament sitting.
Johari said he would weigh in all factors related to the exemption after receiving a motion from Ipoh Barat member of parliament M. Kula Segaran to continue the necktie exemption for male MPs in the Lower House.
"I will consider this situation (the necktie exemption) for the next sitting."
Kula Segaran said the move to exempt men from wearing neckties had been adopted in several countries in the Asian region and should be implemented in Malaysia too.
Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, however, interjected and urged the speaker to review the exemption before deciding on it. "Please make comparisons before deciding (on this). Among the countries that implement similar exemptions, such as not wearing neckties and opting for tracksuits, are Israel and Singapore.
"Look at other countries that wear appropriate attire like me," said Shahidan, who wore a dark suit complete with a blue tie and black songkok.
Yesterday, Johari exempted MPs from wearing neckties for today's Dewan Rakyat sitting.
He made the announcement after receiving suggestions from the MPs. Many parliamentarians adopted the "no-necktie" option in the august house today to make the Dewan Rakyat less formal and strict.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his deputies, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, opted not to wear their neckties today.
Other cabinet members who did not wear neckties include Anthony Loke (PH-Seremban), Rafizi Ramli (PH-Pandan), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (BN-Senator) and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (BN-Kota Tinggi). On the other side of the divide, nearly all opposition MPs kept their neckties on as part of the formal wear.