“THE speaker should have kicked him out. Shame as a minister in charge of many uniformed body agencies.”

Such is the darndest - and perhaps most hard-hitting - comment left behind by a netizen on the Malaysiakini parliamentary report of Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reminding Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to comply with the Dewan Rakyat dress code.

This came about after Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) spotted and pointed the out the PKR secretary-general wearing a batik shirt during PM’s Question Time (PMQT) yesterday (July 2).

Many similarly harsh comments were also levelled at Saifuddin for his oversight.

However, one netizen shared a circular dated Aug 21 last year which stated that while it is compulsory for all civil servants to don batik attire on Thursdays (except those supplied with uniform or attending official events which specify a particular dress code), the donning of batik attire is encouraged on every other day.

However, such rule does not apply to parliamentarians. Batik outfits are allowed on Thursdays “on a voluntary basis” when Parliament sits effective Oct 11, 2021. On regular days, male MPs can wear a lounge suit without a necktie.

Beyond donning batik attire on a wrong day, some cheeky netizens also suggested that PMX reprimands Saifuddin for having underperformed as a minister.

Netizens aside, even MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong seized the moment to take a pot shot at the senator - albeit mildly - on his Facebook page.

“Interesting time at the Dewan Rakyat this morning (July 2) when the Opposition asked why the Home Minister wore batik during the PMQT session as today is not Thursday,” teased the Ayer Hitam MP and former transport minister.

“The PM then ‘advised’ the YB Home Minister DS Saifuddin to adhere to the rules.” - July 3, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/netizen-applaud-pmx-for-light-reprimand-of-saifuddin-for-donning-batik-on-wrong-day-but/