Tudung Issue

Reading the report "Tudung IS optional" by Hamidah Atan on the front page in New Straits Times (NST) on 10 November 2005 unlease a feeling of pity for the editor NST, reporter and those who supportedthe idea as stated in the NST 11 Nov.

Does this news warrant front page in the NST? Definetely not, unless there is a secret agenda.

Why the pity? I pity the educated Malaysians who couldn't differentiate between a religious law and a dress code.

In this time of internet, anyone can read about the religious law regarding dressing for muslim males and females. In Malaysia, wearing tudung is a way of dressing for Muslim females who want to follow Islamic teaching. In other countries like China, India, Middle East, Europe and the West, faithful muslim females dress differently to fulfil the same law.

Wearing tudung in International Islamic University(IIU) is not an Islamic law. It is the dress code for IIU female students. It is like joining the army or police force. No one forces you to join the forces, but once you are in, you have to follow the dress code. If you dont't want to follow the dress code for IIU, then dont' joint it!

Similarly, when you go to a nudist camp, you will be chased out if you enter with clothes on. It is as simple as that: a dress code.