PAS has denied that it had set rules requiring non-Muslim female journalists to wear headscarves when covering the party's Muktamar (general assembly) this weekend.

kuala terengganu by election 140109 mustapha ali PAS secretary-general Mustapha Ali ( left ) said some media organisation may have misunderstood the advice given by the organising secretariat as the requirement to wear headscarves only applied to Muslim female journalists.

"I believe it is a misunderstanding. Perhaps it was not stated clearly in the advisory," he said when contacted.

He was commenting on the statement by Wanita MCA secretary-general Chew Lee Giok who criticised PAS for enforcing a dress code on non-Muslim journalists covering its Muktamar from June 3-5.

Chew claimed the requirement for female journalists to don headscarves and barring skirts and dresses was discriminatory.

"The choice of personal clothing is a fundamental and individual right. This is a clear example of PAS depriving people of their personal liberties.

"In a multi-racial country, I absolutely respect the Muslim dress code, but we also want PAS to respect non-Muslims' customs and choices," she said.

On Monday, the PAS Muktamar organising committee sent out an advisory on the dress code during the Muktamar, which required those covering the muktamar - both Muslims and non-Muslims - to dress neatly in non-revealing clothes.

- Bernama