PUTRAJAYA: Former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police are obligated to accept reports that people lodge regardless of their attire.
He said how a person is dressed when lodging a report should not be a problem as the main issue was that the people needed the police's help when they go to police stations.
"No one will go to the police station to make a report unless they have to. They need the police's help.
"It is not just for cases of life and death. So it does not matter how one is dressed.
"It is the duty of the police to accept reports in all situations."
He was commenting on a statement by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani about the dress code for people who want to lodge reports at police stations.
He reportedly said police stations fell under the category of government offices and the chief secretary to the government had made clear in a directive the attire that can and cannot be worn at such premises.
He said the rules must be followed, citing "kesopanan dan kesusilaan" (courtesy and morality), the fifth principle of the Rukun Negara, as the basis.
Last Monday, it was reported that a woman who went to the Kajang police headquarters to make a report about a road accident was denied entry because she was wearing "inappropriate clothes".
Previously, Kajang police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaid Hassan had said the sentry did not allow the woman to enter the station after noticing she was wearing thigh-length shorts.
The woman was advised to change her shorts, but she refused to follow the instruction.
Police again advised her to change if she wanted to lodge a report at the station.
She agreed and returned about 15 to 20 minutes later wearing longer pants.