PARLIAMENT Malaysians are now free to wear their daily attire when going to government departments.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said said the government will not turn away members of the public, even if they are not "appropriately dressed."

"Members of the public can wear clothes appropriate to Eastern culture and values when dealing with government offices.

"However, the government will still serve those members of the public who are not 'appropriately dressed'," Azalina said in a written parliamentary reply.

She was responding to a query from Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) on whether the government had set a dress code for members of the public when dealing with government agencies, and what action would be taken to those who don't meet the dress code.

Previously there was a public uproar after several government agencies turned away people, mostly women, who were allegedly inappropriately dressed.

These includes women who were wearing skirts just above the knees and they were made to wear a sarong before they were let into the government facilities.

In July, Law Minister Nancy Shukri had dismissed the 'wear sarong' fiasco as ridiculous and said people should be able to wear whatever they want, as long as it is not indecent.

"Wearing shorts and skirts is not distracting. They don't distract people as long as they don't go naked. It is very distracting to be naked," Nancy quipped.

She added that handing out the sarong for people to wear was also unhygienic.