PUTRAJAYA: A new directive has been issued by the Public Service Department (PSD) in Malaysia stating that all federal civil servants are required to wear Malaysian batik on Thursdays, while wearing batik on other working days is strongly encouraged. The directive, which came into effect on August 21, is aimed at supporting the Malaysian batik industry and preserving it as a symbol of Malaysian identity. However, the directive does not apply to officers who are provided with uniforms or who are attending official ceremonies with specific dress codes. This information is stated in the Service Circular on the Wearing of Malaysian Batik Attire During Working Hours for Federal Public Service Officers, dated August 21, 2023, and signed by Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamed, the director-general of the PSD.
The government’s decision to require civil service officers to wear Malaysian batik on Thursdays and encourage it on other working days is a continuation of a practice that has been in place since 1985. The circular, which was shared on the PSD official Facebook page on August 22, emphasizes the importance of supporting the Malaysian batik industry and ensuring its status as a heritage. The circular has also been distributed to all state civil services, statutory bodies, and local authorities. As a result of this new directive, the previous Service Circular Number 1 of 2021 on the Wearing of Malaysian Batik Attire for Federal Civil Service Officers has been revoked, which only encouraged wearing Malaysian batik on Thursdays.
Below the circular, there is an embedded Facebook post from the official page of the PSD. The embedded post contains additional information about the circular and can be viewed by following the provided link. The link opens a Facebook video post that is 500 pixels wide and 734 pixels high. The video seems to provide further details regarding the implementation of the new directive.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
