PAS Youth said it received information that a school in Johor is forcing female Muslim students to wear tight shorts while participating in race walking.

 

Its chief Suhaizan Kaiat uploaded photos of a student wearing a tudung and long-sleeved shirt, and black, tight shorts.             

 

The student’s calves were exposed in the photo which appears to be taken at a race track around a field.

 

In most interpretations of Islam, Muslim women are obliged to cover their bodies except only their hands and face when in public.

 

It is said to have been taken at a competition organised by a district sports council in Johor.

 

Malaysiakini is withholding the name of the council pending its comments.

 

Meanwhile, Suhaizan has directed Johor PAS Youth to investigate the matter and lodge a complaint to the District Education Office.

 

In the same Facebook post on Monday night, Suhaizan said he understands that a referee would need to see the participant’s knees to tell whether they are running or walking, and the easiest way to do this is to require the participants to wear shorts.

 

Nevertheless, he said this is against Islam’s teachings, especially for female participants.

 

Alternative outfit

 

“One solution is to require the female students to wear a complete dark coloured set pictured here, plus a loose pair of shorts,” said Suhaizan.

 

His suggestion was accompanied with a photo of black-coloured, skin-tight, long running pants.

 

“The Ministry of Education needs to pay attention to this issue,” he said.

 

Separately, the official mouthpiece of the NGO Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), Ismaweb, quoted Ikatan Guru-guru Malaysia (I-Guru) urging the government to revise the sports dress code.

 

“We want every sport event held to observe the practices and sensitivities of Islam, especially when it comes to dress codes.

 

“So we urge the authorities concerned to study and review such rules,” I-Guru secretary Nur Aizam Idris was quoted as saying.