I have been dismayed by the recent developments where at a time when we are supposed to be propelling towards being a developed nation, we are still arguing about what we should wear in public places.

I am a government doctor; hence I’m fully aware what constitutes appropriate attire to wear when you enter the office.

However for the past 10 years I have been working in government hospitals, I have never been aware of strict regulations that advise on the appropriate attire when visiting hospital facilities as these are considered public places.

Of course we should be mindful and wear what is deemed appropriate and decent in accordance to our cultural values, but I think it would be too harsh and irrational to just reject everyone who ‘wears anything above the knee’.

Even if there’s a regulation on this, the way it has been handled has been distasteful. Obviously many do not see that there’s a clear difference between imposing values and what constitute an appropriate reminder or advice in such circumstances.

When one gives a ‘sarong’ to others to wear in public places, it paints the subject as a ‘wrongdoer’ and embarrasses the subject to a certain extent. It would have probably caused less controversies and unnecessary divides if the visitor had been just advised and turned away politely.

In Singapore where I’m currently visiting, the citizens are obviously more open-minded in terms of what to wear in public places including hospitals. Yet we hardly hear of any incidence of rapes or any conduct of indecency in the news.

Mind you, I could hardly see any written regulations, guards or police on the streets and in public places that will monitor your every act; yet everyone is highly civic-minded and knows how to behave appropriately and follows the unwritten rules.

I guess these are what constitute a first world country; where civic responsibilities and social trust parallel the development of its world-class facilities and services. When we could not even overcome this barrier, I highly doubt we are anywhere near Vision 2020.