A secondary school in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan has directed all non-Muslim students in the school to wear traditional Malay costume for an award ceremony next month.

New Straits Times reported yesterday that Sekolah Menengah Dato Sedia Raja has wanted the Form Five students to wear the attire for uniformity.

However, parents of several Indian students saw red over the requirement. They have submitted letters to the state education director, protesting the requirement.

Copies of the letter, made available to Malaysiakini stated that the parents are against the requirement because they have their own beliefs and customs.

"We have our own traditional clothes that can be worn for that particular day. We are afraid that the school's requirement will do away with the cultures of other races. We hope the school will be more sensitive in this matter," read the letter.

The parents also urged the school to respect the Rukun Negara, especially the first and fifth principles where all Malaysians are urged to believe in God and to uphold morality and courtesy.

S Tinagaran, who runs a tuition centre in Rembau, has taken the initiative to convince the parents to submit their letters to the state education department.

"I got to know about this when a student asked me where he could find a pair of baju Melayu and songkok. Soon, I found out that some 14 Indian students who received excellent marks in their final term examinations were told to wear Malay costumes for uniformity," said Tinagaran when contacted.

'Parents fear retribution'

"I then tried persuading the parents to take action. They were unhappy but many of them were afraid because their children will be sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination this year," he added.

Tinagaran said that this is not the first time the school has come up with such a requirement.

"Last year, non-Muslim Red Crescent Society members were told to wear tudung (headgear for female Muslims) for the school's sports day march. And I was told by the students that this is an ongoing practice in the school," said Tinagaran.

Tinagaran added that he was called for a meeting by the school principal Azimah Alis yesterday. The meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, was also attended by state education director and school parent-teacher association (PIBG) chairperson.

"The principal washed her hands off the issue. She claimed she has no idea of what was happening. They also wanted me to call the press, to withdraw my statement," he said, adding that the PIBG also wants to meet with the Indian students and their parents next week.

School principal Azimah Alis was not available to comment on the matter.

In a separate development, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has submitted a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi protesting the school's directive yesterday.

A copy of the letter, made available to Malaysiakini, stated that the school's requirement for non-Muslim students to wear Islamic attire reflects extremism and violates the fundamental rights of students.

'Bold and arrogant lead'

"In March last year, we issued a statement strongly condemning your directive to non-Muslim female personnel in the police force to adhere to then IGP compelling them to wear headscarfs at official functions," read the letter.

"We then voiced our fear that your irresponsible directive would be followed by other government departments to impose Islamic values on non-Muslims and it has now turned out that SMK Dato Sedia Raja has taken the bold and arrogant lead to compel non-Muslim students to wear Malay costumes in the name of uniformity."

Meanwhile Gerakan vice-president Dr S Vijayaratnam, in a press statement, said that the party objected to the school's move.

"It should be a matter of personal choice. As long as they wear standard school uniform, it has to be acceptable," said Vijayaratnam.

"Incidents like this are contrary to the government's policy to make national schools the school of choice for all Malaysians."