Lipsticks And Heels

Definitely two of the ladies equipment and it has created some huhah in blogs. The spark starts when reports about MPKB send out a directive contained in a municipal council circular dated May 25 and signed by its president Shafie Ismail, and distributed to business premises in Kota Baru.

The report by MSM says this:

Muslim women employees working here are forbidden to wear lipstick and high-heeled shoes to work.

However MPKB clarified that it is just an advice to women to protect their modesty.

Its public relations director Azman Mohd Daham said the circular was not a compulsory guideline for Muslim female staff to follow but to encourage them to observe the Islamic dress code.

“Muslim women need not be unduly worried. No action would be taken if they wear thick make-up or high heel shoes,” he told journalists. - The Star.

Both lipstick and high heels might not be the culprit but it still can create arousal among men, maybe the intensity is not that great. Its natural for men (some women too) to turn heads when spotting a sexy looking women whether or not in luscious red lipstick and/or high heels and what make them do that? Man might not agree that thick make-up and high heel shoes can give rise to cases of rape and adultery while on a hindsight, a strict adherence to proper Islamic attire was to preserve the dignity of women.

Well, of course whatever we do in Malaysia that does not fulfill our needs and desire is considered as denying ones right. What if Malaysia ban selling chewing gum, will most Malaysians agree? I don't think so. But why can Singapore, for example do it? And when Malaysians cross over the Johore Causeway they can follow all rules and regulation set by the republic. To me we reject all good regulations just we want to reject it without weighing the positive and negative outcome of it.

When women are advised to wear decent attire, it means protecting her modesty. Do we ever come to a situation that a women who wears a a low cut top for example will cover her breast if someone stares at her cleavage. Or a women wearing a skirt will press down the skirt if wind tries to blow it. Why? To protect her modesty, Am I not right? Do one ever wonder why does she took the trouble to cover herself if she in actual situation wear a revealing dress. Just cover up and nobody will stare at her body.

Wearing lipstick is part of womens ad ons and accessories when dressing. So does high heels even though not all women wear them. This is what State Women Affairs Committee chairman Wan Ubaidah Wan Omar has to say; she supported the circular and asked why women should slave themselves to attract men by wearing high heels and excessive lipstick.

She contends that make-up in light portion was allowed and wearing high heels too often was unhealthy as it placed undue pressure on the feet of the wearer.

Let us look at things on a broader perspective and not disagree just because it is implemented by PAS. What if UMNO do it? Will we reject too?

However I don't agree that both items is the cause of "raping women's modesty". It is just part of a thousand causes...........

Read Malay women in Malaysia.