Much hue and cry has been made about the alleged hypocrisy of Michelle Leslie, the Australian lingerie model who discarded her headscarf upon her release from jail in Indonesia where she served three months for a drug offence.

But seriously, can anyone blame the girl? If I were facing a death sentence and it was the only way to get me a leniency, I would don a headscarf in a second.

Let's face it. In Malaysia, not just Indonesia, women get better treatment from the police if they wear headscarves even if their identity cards confirm they are Muslim. As far as the authorities are concerned, women who are not appropriately covered up are not worthy of respect, and in some cases, free to abuse and be nasty to.

Incidentally, I'm willing to bet that no female detainee brought in wearing a 'tudung' has ever been subject to nude ear squats