PARLIAMENT | Athletes are free to wear what they need to, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim said today.

However, at the same time, he said that the government will not stop states from imposing dress codes on women athletes.

He told the Dewan Rakyat this morning that each place has its own way of looking at dress codes for women and that his ministry will not interfere as long as athletic performance is not affected.

"This has become a compromise between us all because the stakeholders in sports are not just the youth (and sports) ministry, but we also have to see to state sports councils, we also have to look at associations that are at the grassroots.

"Each state, each place, each district has its own ways and as long as it is agreed upon that it (such codes) does not affect not affect athletic performance, we (the ministry) will always consider the best way," he said.

He added that his ministry approaches state-level guidelines by either allowing them or discussing them beforehand.

He was responding to Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh), who asked if the government will set clothing guidelines, particularly for women athletes who are Muslim.

Adam replied saying that his ministry has no negative perception of such suggestions, adding that this was according to the needs of individual athletes.

In Malaysia, there are athletes who prefer to dress modestly as well as those who are more "open", he said.

"If we see before this, in several states, for example in Terengganu, there are sports organisers that we do not obstruct from placing, for example, dress codes," he said.

Before this, Terengganu had imposed restrictions on Muslim female athletes from competing in sports where the necessary attire is not syariah-compliant - which impacted gymnastics and water sports.