Being in a car or on a motorcycle with someone of the opposite gender can land you in trouble.

That is, if you are a teacher-trainee in the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Teachers’ Training Institute (IPG) in Kuantan, Pahang.

NONE The directive, contained in a circular dated and put into effect on Aug 10 by the institute, stipulates that it is now prohibited for its trainees to be riding a motorcycle or car berdua-duaan (as couples) on or even outside campus grounds.

Citing the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 (Act 174), the circular containing the directive stipulates as an offense any “behaviour that can be interpreted as damaging or injuring the good name of the institution, whether committed within or outside campus”.

"As such, IPG announces with immediate effect that all students are not allowed to leave berdua-duaan in any vehicle, whether car or motorcycle within or outside the campus at any time,” the circular reads further.

Confirming the issuance of the circular, IPG director Mazlan Mohamad told Malaysiakini when contacted that the directive was made as a preventive measure against the onset of social ills.

"Why did we do that? Because we want to prevent (incidences). It’s better (to prevent such incidences), before such things as baby-dumping occur,” said Mazlan.

NONE Mazlan denied that the directive was an extreme measure, and pointed to the absence of objections by the students.

Furthermore, the rule would only be enforced within the area of the campus and is directed at the trainees, who have been openly and repeatedly seen leaving the campus in twos.

The perceptions of the community surrounding IPG - and their level of tolerance about such incidences - are different from the community in Kuala Lumpur, Mazlan noted further.

He also said that most of the 1,400-strong campus population understand the social environment of Kuala Lipis where such incidents are frowned upon.

“I have explained to the students that it’s not that they are not allowed completely to be on motorcycles together. If there are things to attend to, then there’s nothing wrong.

“We just do not want our students to always be going out, particularly with 'outsiders'.

"If it’s just for dinner, then there’s no problem. But if dinner’s over and they’re still together alone in a car, then that is not right,” said Mazlan.

He said among the things that should not be happening are students “berpegang-pegangan” (holding each other).

Mazlan stressed, however, that those found violating the directive would not be punished in any form.

The only action taken would be to counsel the trainee and staff member involved if there’s been many complaints about their behaviour.

Mazlan said he does not whether other institutions have taken the same measure as IPG.