It is up to individual Muslim women to choose whether to cover their heads or not, Islamic NGO Sisters in Islam (SIS) said.

"There should be no compulsion in religion," the vocal women's rights NGO said.

It cited the Quranic verses from chapters al-Baqarah: 2:256, Yunus: 99-100 and al-Ghashiyah: 22.

"The decision to cover or not cover one’s head therefore, remains the sovereign choice of the individual, not any external human authority under any pretext."

Sinar Harian yesterday reported that the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) launched 'Operasi Gempur Aurat' aimed at ensuring that all traders in the city observe the Muslim dress code.

This includes covering their heads and not wearing "tight" clothing.

The daily reported that 34 compounds have been issued during the operation was launched in September and will continue until the end of the year.

The maximum fine for traders and their staff members who contravene the by-law on "ethical dressing" is RM500.

"This is not a new thing, in fact a circular under the Order on Ethical Dressing has been issued before this, but enforcement is necessary as we see traders are taking it lightly," state executive council member Nor Azariza Mohd Alawi is quoted as saying.

Compulsion doesn't lead to peity

Meanwhile, on its Facebook page, SIS also shared a link to its press statement in the year 2000 responding to a similar ruling in then PAS-led Terengganu.

It had then said that imposing laws on dressing "does not necessarily lead to more peity" but is instead forces "compliance based on fear of the state and of Islam".

"The Quran indicates that modesty arises out of our own God-consciousness and others cannot impose that God-consciousnes by enforcing or coercing women to wear the tudung or remove the tudung," it had said.

It also noted that Quranic verses on modesty when examined in the context they were revealed are on moderation and respect for a woman.

"The Quran does not clearly impose any specific form of dress," it said.