A 34-year-old man, identified only by his surname Shim, faced an unexpected dress code requirement at a police station in Penang.
After dining at a hawker center, Shim discovered his car’s window shattered and items including cash and his wife’s international passport stolen.
When he approached one of the police station at Seberang Perai to report the incident, he was turned away, being told to come back wearing long pants instead of shorts.
Speaking to WeirdKaya, he said his car mirror was shattered, affecting the rear seating area.
At the first police station, he wasn’t outright denied service; instead, he was advised to return in long pants to file his report.
At the second station, he did not delve into the reasons behind the different policies of the two stations but simply inquired if he could file his report despite his attire, to which he was allowed.
He shared his frustration on the Facebook group named “We Love Bukit Tambun 吾爱武吉淡汶,” questioning the logic behind such a demand during an emergency.
The situation took a turn when he was redirected to the Bukit Tambun police station, where the dress code was not an issue, and the police even inquired why he had taken so long to report the crime.
This incident raises questions about dress code policies in emergency situations at police stations.
Netizens reacted with a mixture of humor and disbelief to the incident.
Sarcastic remarks made rounds, with one user joking about the possibility of dress codes becoming a priority over citizens’ concerns, and another mockingly anticipating a future where formal attire might be required for police reports.
Meanwhile some have shared contrasting experiences, stating that they did not encounter any issues when visiting a police station in shorts to address similar matters.
