THE Higher Education Ministry must send the right message to public universities in respecting student autonomy and giving them freedom of attire, Tanah Rata assemblyman Ho Chi Yang said.

Ho, who is also DAP Youth varsity affairs bureau director, said minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin must make it clear that students have the power to make decisions for themselves, including their choice of clothing.

“While I agree that universities have the autonomy to decide on matters related to campuses, I opine that the ministry needs to send a few clear messages to universities to respect and protect students’ freedom and autonomy, including their freedom to dress, and to stop issuing fines to students based on strict dress codes,” he said in a statement.

He said Khaled’s New Year’s resolution was to give students more freedom and autonomy.

“Restricting students’ freedom to dress and even issuing fines related to dress codes are clearly not in line with the minister’s aspiration,” he said.

Ho was reiterating his stand that public universities must relax their dress codes and stop punishing students for even the most minor infractions.

He gave recent examples of students being fined by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia management for not adhering to the institution’s dress code, such as colouring their hair or wearing too many earrings.

And Universiti Utara Malaysia issued a notice stating that all male students are required to wear neckties during exams, and all students are required to wear leather shoes before entering exam halls.

Following this, Khaled responded by saying his ministry would not interfere in the matter as universities have the autonomy to set their own dress codes.

Ho said others have tried to mislead the public by arguing that relaxing dress codes in universities will result in “identity crises” among students and universities.

He said university students should not be treated as children as they can already vote.

“Will they endure an identity crisis just because they are given the freedom to dress on campuses?” he said.

He said even parliament has a relaxed dress code and members are not required to wear neckties.

“Varsity students are the leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, I sincerely call upon universities to listen to students’ voices and respect student autonomy by taking one of the first and most meaningful steps – stop imposing strict dress codes on campuses,” he said. – February 12, 2023.