Songkok, Fez & Turban

Teng said, "It has been the DAP policy not to wear the No. 1 suit which comes with a songkok. I have never wore one since 1995 (Read DAP Sarawak Roars)."

I said, "The songkok that are worn by ADUNs and MPs are ceremonial headgears, it does not compromise anyone faith for wearing it."

My opinion is that even wearing the basic songkok will not compromise anything. It will be good if Malaysian can wear one another traditional clothing.

My alma mater, St. Xavier's Institution's brass band have been wearing Baju Melayu styled uniform with a green ceremonial songkok since time immemorial. It is a Christian Brother school with students of all races and religions. I had my religious education there, not as a Christian but as a Buddhist.

DAP, please don't be a hypocrite or have double standards, just revoke or amend your party policy - it's clearly wrong!!! Your policy is a subtle way of playing the racial or religious card.

By the way, I wonder whether DAP knows that the songkok most probably originated from a type of Greek cap - the Fez.

But what I said about the songkok may not applied to the sikh turban (read the letter by A Sikh Mother to NST below).

Read also about the headgear - Fez

Star online, Thursday April 24, 2008

Teng explains why DAP changed position on headgear

By LOONG MENG YEE

PETALING JAYA: For years, he refused to wear the songkok, even turning down invitations which required him to wear the traditional Malay headgear.

But now that lawyer Teng Chang Khim from the DAP is the new Selangor Assembly Speaker, he understood the need to conform.

“Much attention was on whether I would wear the songkok and the ceremonial robe after taking the oath of office. Well, I did.

“I have already explained why we have to change our position before the swearing-in of the state executive council members last month. It should not be an issue anymore,” wrote Teng in the latest posting at tengchangkhim.blogspot.com

He even put up a picture of himself in full Speaker outfit and smiling outside the State Assembly after the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

In the posting, Teng explained that when DAP was in the Opposition before the March 8 polls, leaders had the option not to attend any official function which required the songkok to be worn as part of the dress code.

“The party chose to exercise that option, which had been a DAP policy for years.

“However, now that DAP is a partner in a coalition government, leaders have no choice but to follow the dress code. Otherwise, the coalition government can never be formed,” wrote Teng.

Teng was not the first state assemblyman from DAP to be keenly watched over the wearing of the songkok.

When his fellow party leaders in state government, Ronnie Liu and Ean Yong Hian Wah, were sworn in as executive councillors before Selangor's Sultan Sharaffudin Idris Shah on March 24, much attention was focused on the songkok on their heads as well.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong hailed this as a positive development.

“Now, they understand the need to follow rules and regulations. I welcome this development.

Previously, when MCA leaders wore the songkok at official functions or during an audience with royalty, DAP criticised us, saying we had turned our backs on our culture as the songkok was not part of our traditional wear.

“MCA tried to explain that we wore it out of respect and because it was the culture of our hosts, but our explanations were pushed aside,” said Chong.


NST Online, 2008/04/15
Menteri Besar's gaffe: Karpal Singh should just stick to politics
By : A Sikh Mother, Penang

.... I would also like to ask the Chief Minister of Penang why was he adorning a turban on his head on his visit to the Sikh Gurdwara in Penang?

Do you know the significance of a turban? Were you compelled to wear a turban?

Do you know that most of the others around you on that day who did not have the required unshorn hair wore scarfs/handkerchiefs to cover their heads instead of wearing the turban.

We have had many a time children from various schools coming to our gurdwara to learn about the Sikh religion. None of these children came with a turban as I guess they were more learned - they just used scarves to cover their heads as a sign of respect to our holy book the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The turban is a crown for the deserving Sikh. No Sikh likes his turban to be touched or made fun of. The cloth used to tie the turban is never put on the feet. It is always given the highest respect...Religion is very sensitive. Please do your homework before you attend religious functions.

Have good and learned advisers.

See also: Heading in the right direction