Socso suspends Rela personnel

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has suspended a People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) personnel following allegations that he prevented a woman from entering a government office in Penang due to the skirt she was wearing.

The unnamed male Rela personnel, who was only tasked with security guard duties, has been suspended immediately pending the completion of an internal probe.

Malaysiakini reported Socso chief executive officer Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed as saying that the organisation viewed the matter seriously with regards to the issue of the uncalled action by the Rela personnel.

He explained there was no such order issued to the Rela personnel from preventing the woman who was wearing a skirt from entering their office.

“Socso would like to emphasise that what happened was beyond the management’s knowledge and the Rela personnel in question had acted outside the jurisdiction of his duties.

“Socso has taken immediate action against the Rela personnel involved by demanding an explanation.

“The person has also been suspended from duty starting yesterday until the investigation of this case is completed,” Mohammed Azman said in a statement.

Checks revealed that all Socso offices nationwide do not enforce a specific dress code for their visitors.

However, as with most government agencies or offices, there is signage advising visitors to dress appropriately.

The action by Socso follows an incident on Wednesday where Penang-based lawyer Datuk Ajit Singh Jessy claimed that his female colleague was stopped by a Rela personnel manning the entrance to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) office in Jalan Burma, citing her dressing.

The female office manager, identified only as May, had earlier accompanied Ajit to the Socso office to register his maid under the organisation.

Ajit said upon their arrival, the Rela personnel at the entrance had stopped them and said that her colleague’s skirt should reach her feet.

It was reported that Ajit and his colleague then asked him what was wrong since her skirt was knee-length. He replied that the rule stated that it should be at toe level, adding that it was the rule.

“After continuously insisting to know what was wrong with the skirt, he replied that ‘this time round it’s ok, next time it’s not possible’,” said Ajit in a statement.

Ajit said that once they entered the relevant office, no other staff member made an issue of May’s clothing or reprimanded them.

He questioned that since when the Rela personnel, who is a security guard, have been given the authority to enforce a dress code.

“I always thought their job was to guard the building.

“Please put a stop to this harassment of the public at government departments,” said Ajit.

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