An email from G on the perennial problem of dress code for non-Muslim graduates for the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) convocation:
With reference to the above subject matter, I would like to direct your attention to the following url: http://www.iiu.edu.my/convo/dress30.php *particularly on the “Notes”. Ms Fong (Po Kuan) and DAP had fight fiercelessly for non-Muslim females’ rights in IIUM, which resulted to the change of dress code from compulsory wearing of tudung to optional (even though we still need to wear a small bandana). However, this changes does not seem to take effect on the dress code on non-muslim female during the Convocation, as pointed out bluntly in the abovementioned website. I believe, convocation ceromony is one of the “proudest” moment for every parent. However, for a non-Muslim parent to witness this precious moment while their child is wearing a tudung with a string hint of alien religion, is upsetting and embarassing. So, should they absent from the ceromony as how the University suggest? Or, put down their pride to cheer for the child? We were brought up in a belief that (at least I worship this), a must for convocation is the “Cap”. Perhaps for a Muslim, wearing a tudung with a funny looking band over it is proud. but for non-Muslim, the Cap is almost everything. To wear it when receiving the roll, throw it to the air after completion of convocation, take family photo wearing the Cap, hanging it in the living room..the Cap signifies a huge and respective moment! During our 49th Convocation, a top student refused to attend the convocation simply because she opposed strongly for the wearing of tudung. The consequences were for her to give up the some awards. This year, the student who is a named and expected Best Student Award recipient refused to attend the ceromony for the same reason. I see no reason why IIUM decided to ban the wearing of Cap. UKM and UM have it…and they have Muslim students, too! I also find no Quranic verses which opposed to the usage of such Cap to support the same. Hence, this is most probably another ridiculous regulation of the authority. I sincerely wish that you may look into the issue as soon as possible, seeing that no other Party in our nation is as vocal as DAP. My convocation is on 26th August. Any changes may not be implemented on my batch, but I do hope that my fellow juniors would have a taste of wearing the Cap on their convocation!