Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has extended an apology to blogger Wilson Ng (of placesandfoods), who was abruptly stopped from collecting his luggage at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) baggage services’ “Lost and Found” area.
On 25th June, Wilson wrote in a blog post that he had gone to pick up his luggage which he had accidentally left at the baggage carousel following a trip to Taipei with his family. The incident, which happened on 7th May, left him shocked and upset as he was initially told by a security officer to go back home and change because of his attire. This was what he was wearing at that time:
However, he kept calm and tried to reason with the said security officer. After which, he was told to wear a pair of long black pants and shoes belonging to the security office before he was given a visitor pass to enter the baggage services’ “Lost and Found” office to collect his bag.
The incident was the first report of a male encountering such a situation, but it wasn’t the first report of a dress code issue as of recent. In fact, Wilson had called up the services’ number a day before and nothing was mentioned about a dress code. Hence his shock.
On 26th June (Friday), MAHB released an official statement via its website and said that it has investigated the matter and found it to be due to miscommunication on the implementation of a policy pertaining to the issuance of visitor passes at the airport. The full statement is as follows:
We wish to clarify on the matter raised by Mr Wilson Ng on www.placesandfoods.com – KLIA Dress Code for Lost & Found Baggage.
We have investigated the matter and found that it was a miscommunication on the implementation of a policy pertaining to the issuance of visitor passes at our airports.
First and foremost, the dress code applies for public requesting for visitor passes to enter the terminal for any official visits or work purposes.
However, the dress code does not apply to passengers passing through our airports.
In this case, we regret that the confusion on the dress code requirement arose as a result of Mr Ng applying for a visitor pass to re-enter the terminal to go to the Malaysia Airlines’ Lost & Found office which is located at the airside area of the terminal.
We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Mr Ng for any inconvenience caused during the incident.
It is our hope that Mr. Wilson Ng will have a joyful experience at any of our airports during his next visit.
Thank you.
Wilson Ng wrote another blog post dated 27th June to acknowledge the apology and at the same time, added that MAHB e-mailed him personally.
As mentioned, Wilson’s experience wasn’t the first report of a dress code issue as of recent. On 8th June, a woman was forced to wear a sarong or be refused service at the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Malaysia (Road Transport Department Malaysia). The JPJ incident caused a public uproar, resulting in netizens stepping out to voice their concerns regarding the unnecessary “dress code” as well as several MPs calling out and questioning JPJ.
After which, another incident on 23rd June followed where a woman was stopped for wearing shorts at the Sungai Buloh hospital and made to don a patient’s towel.
What are your thoughts on this, peeps? Has this dress code/”covering up” issue gone completely out of hand? Should there be dress code rules and regulations for places aside from government offices?
Share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Sources: placesandfoods, MAHB website.
