Many religious places in the world implement dress code for visitors because appropriateness is a requirement for religious sites.

Thaipusam is a religious event and it is therefore necessary that devotees and visitors be appropriately dressed for the event as a mark of respect.

There is no doubt that over the years there have been devotees who neglected the emphasis that appropriate dress code is necessary when attending Thaipusam at Batu Caves and elsewhere in our country.

Batu Caves and other Hindu temples are holy sites for Hindus. Thaipusam is a religious event. It is therefore understandable the failure of some in dressing appropriately for Thaipusam at Batu Caves and other Hindu temples has become an issue of concern among some people.

At the main Hindu temple in Ipoh last week, I was told that tourists who were in shorts (men and women) and others in revealing dresses were disallowed to enter the temple. Malaysians and tourists must abide by the temple’s dress code.

A few days ago, a Facebook group warned Hindu women to expect being sprayed with paint should they be "inappropriately dressed" at Thaipusam events.

While I agree that there should be increased awareness among devotees to be appropriately dressed for the Thaipusam festival, there must be no moral policing on such an issue. Neither must there be any violent threat nor act against any one failing to abide by the appropriate dress code requirement.

Increased awareness must only be done via education and publicity, not by violence or any form of threat. What more when such spray painting is obviously against the law. No one should take the law into their own hands.

Thaipusam is a big religious event in Malaysia. It is also a major tourist attraction event. However, it must not be marred by unpleasant happenings that can tarnish the event and even the country’s image internationally.

M KULASEGARAN is DAP national vice-chairperson and MP for Ipoh Barat.