Legislation against hate speech is required in Malaysia, says former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

She bases this on several reasons, the latest prompted by Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin lecturer Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah's remarks on the dress code issue.

Last week, Ridhuan Tee criticised Kinrara DAP for mocking the dress code at federal government agencies.

"Perhaps they should enter churches or temples with just their underwear if they don't believe in dressing etiquette," Ridhuan Tee ( photo ) had said.

Ambiga said that while his remarks were also fuelled by other reasons, she pointed out that they were partly racist in nature.

"I actually would advocate legislation against hate speech, like they have in the United Kingdom," Ambiga said during a book launch in Petaling Jaya today.

She lamented that part of the problem was that the media was still giving a medium to such "extremism".

"That extreme racism that he (Ridhuan Tee) exhibits is still going on. He's still allowed space in a major newspaper in this country," Ambiga said.

However, she cautioned against any kind of a ban on the right-wing from speaking up.

"I'm not saying, like Perkasa, to ‘shut them up completely’ because it is their freedom of speech. But there must be a limit," she insisted.

'Dress code makes no sense'

Ambiga also weighed in on the issue of the dress code imposed by government agencies saying it "makes absolutely no sense".

There have been an increasing number of press reports on the “dress code” being enforced at government agencies, hospitals and at the Selangor legislative assembly as well.

Women considered “inadequately dressed”  have been asked to cover themselves with a sarong or a towel before they are allowed entry into the premises or are provided service.

These people in the government service are imposing their values through the dress code onto other people, Ambiga said.

Even if these people are no longer allowed to enforce the dress code anymore, she explained, their actions have already left a mark on the people.

"How many of us will go to a government department not suitably covered up because you just can't be bothered, in case you are stopped from going in?" she asked.

"They have already changed the way we think and behave, just by making things difficult," Ambiga added.