Riau civil servants wear new uniforms

PEKANBARU, Riau: All civil servants in the provincial administration will be obliged to wear Malay traditional costumes, locally known as teluk belanga for men and kebaya for women, on Saturdays beginning Feb. 16.

The secretary of the provincial administration, Arsyad Rahim, said here on Saturday that the policy was made in conjunction with the administration's policy of promoting Malay traditional attire.

"Riau's 2020 vision is to make the province a center for Malay economy and culture in Southeast Asia, so local officials and civil servants can set good examples by introducing Malay culture and customs," he said.

He explained that the provincial administration would also extend the campaign of spreading the Malay culture to schools at all levels in the province.

"The Pekanbaru municipal administration will require its female employees to wear the locally named kurung costumes on Fridays before the provincial administration makes the new rule," he said, adding that the new uniforms would be free for all civil servants. --Antara