No bare shoulders in Malaysia

No bare shoulders in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's women's affairs minister on
Friday blasted the trend of harassing women for their clothing
after a civil servant chased a woman with bare shoulders from her
office, a local newspaper reported.

"There is no law in this country prohibiting sleeveless
blouses. Such outfit is normal in our multi-racial and multi-
cultural society," said Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, according to the
afternoon Malay Mail paper.

Women wear a range of styles in multicultural Malaysia. Many
Muslim Malays cover their heads and sport a traditional outfit
with long sleeves and ankle-length skirt while Chinese and Indian
women often wear the latest, western fashions.

But recent electoral successes by a traditional Islamic party
is putting more pressure on Muslim women to conform and most
government offices are dominated by Malay Muslims.

Shahrizat, a Muslim known for her fashionable outfits, said
the department should drop its "sanctimonious and holier-than-
thou attitude."