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A mother and daughter pair in Malacca, Malaysia, found themselves unable to seek help after getting involved in a car accident because of what they wore.
Officers at the police station allegedly turned them away because their skirts were too short.
An investigation into the incident has been requested by a member of Malacca's authority body.
Accident
The accident occurred in Malacca, on Dec. 8, Sin Chew Daily reported.
The 56-year-old mother, known by her surname Guo, and her daughter, who is in her 20s, were en route to Kuala Lumpur from Batu Pahat, Johor, at about 2pm.
While driving along the North-South Expressway, their car was rear-ended by another vehicle belonging to a young family.
Both parties were instructed to go to the police headquarters in Jasin District to file a report, but Guo and her daughter were immediately denied entry.
They were informed that their skirts violated the dress code.
Violation of dress code
Guo claimed that while their skirts sat slightly above the knee, they were not considered short skirts.
She also asked for an exception but was unable to convince the officers, who said that they would face consequences if they let the women in.
The mother-daughter pair was eventually forced to buy long trousers at a nearby shopping mall to enter the station.
Guo also questioned how feasible it was to always carry long pants with them when they go out.
Speaking to Sin Chew, she lamented the inflexibility of the rules even when help was being sought.
"What if it was a murder?" she questioned.
Dress codes in government agencies
Following the incident, the district's police chief stated that the officers on duty had acted in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the local government.
Members of the public are generally required to follow the authorities' dress codes when entering government agencies, which include long pants or skirts that cover the knee for women.
However, Malacca's state executive councillor said that SOPs can generally be waived for emergencies.
He has requested an internal investigation by the Malacca police chief.
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