"I can understand but I cannot accept."
That was the stand of Lawrence Jayaraj, the uncle and guardian to 15-year-old Britney Nicole, the pupil of SMK Seri Mutiara in Cheras who was sent home allegedly for donning the baju kurung to school.
"There's no misunderstanding. Actually, the policy of the school is, since 2009, they don't want non-Malay girls to wear baju kurung, and I can understand because they gave me certain reasons," Jayaraj told Astro AWANI when asked to respond to claims made by the school's principal, Mohd Amir Abdul Ghani.
Lawrence had been told by the principal that the school, which consists of predominantly non-Muslims, had this ruling since 2009. The school prohibited non-Muslim girls to wear baju kurung to school because apparently, the outfit was 'more revealing' as compared to the pinafore.
"And out of convenience's sake, one of the teachers in charge of student affairs, came up with a ruling that non-Muslims should wear pinafore and not baju kurung," said Jayaraj.
Jayaraj said he was also asked by one of the teachers to seek financial aid via the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) from Britney's previous school when he sought compromise and leniency from the school (SMK Seri Mutiara) to let his niece wear her baju kurung until end of the month when he receive his salary.
Jayaraj said Britney had been wearing baju kurung to school since she was 12 and her attire has always been decent -- buttoned and non-revealing.
He said it was only this year that Britney decided she would only wear baju kurung to school because the pinafores she tried on during her back-to-school shopping trip with her aunt (Jayaraj's wife), were too short for Britney's taste.
In a report by Bernama Thursday, Mohd Amir had said the school never prohibited any non-Muslim female student from wearing baju kurung, but only emphasised that the attire had to be properly worn.
Mohd Amir, who was absent during the incident between Britney and her teacher, had also stated that the issue was a 'miscommunication' between teacher and student.
When contacted by Astro AWANI, Mohd Amir declined comments, only saying that the full report by the school has already been filed and forwarded to the Education Ministry for further action.
This issue caused and uproar, particularly in the social media when it was made known that Britney was allegedly told by her school to 'go home' because she was wearing baju kurung. Reason being, the attire was 'meant for Malay female students only'.
Britney, a Form Three student from Sarawak, had left her hometown to move in with her uncle, Jayaraj in Cheras to seek for a better quality education.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said the Education Ministry had never issued a directive stopping non-Muslim female students from wearing baju kurung to school as it was in line with the ministry's policy to promote unity.
Linawati Adnan
Fri Jan 16 2015
![Baju kurung issue: There was no misunderstanding, says student's guardian Baju kurung issue: There was no misunderstanding, says student's guardian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-01/61421406087_295x200.jpg)
Up till recently, there has never been an issue with female pupils, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, wearing baju kurung to school. - BERNAMApic/file
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Tukang jahit manfaatkan masa PKP siapkan tempahan baju raya Tukang jahit manfaatkan masa PKP siapkan tempahan baju raya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-04/71588110785_Tukangjahit.jpg)
Tukang jahit manfaatkan masa PKP siapkan tempahan baju raya
PKP memberi peluang kepada tukang jahit untuk menyiapkan tempahan baju hari raya pelanggan.
![Permaisuri Agong tunjuk bakat reka corak baju guna bauksit Permaisuri Agong tunjuk bakat reka corak baju guna bauksit](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/71550402323_TUNKUHAJAHAZIZAH.jpg)
Permaisuri Agong tunjuk bakat reka corak baju guna bauksit
Jika dua hari lalu Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Almarhum Sultan Iskandar mendedahkan baginda memiliki baju kurung daripada kain Tenun Diraja Pahang bauksit, har
![Saya ada tenun 'bauksit' - Permaisuri Agong Saya ada tenun 'bauksit' - Permaisuri Agong](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/71550265634_TBHajahAzizahAminah.jpg)
Saya ada tenun 'bauksit' - Permaisuri Agong
Tunku Azizah bertitah kain tersebut 'diilhamkan' apabila baginda dituduh oleh segelintir pihak kononnya baginda terlibat dalam perlombongan bauksit.
![ADUN Jeram buat hal lagi! ADUN Jeram buat hal lagi!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-01/41547613427_MURIDSEKOLAH.jpg)
ADUN Jeram buat hal lagi!
Lebih menarik, sumbangan 10,000 baju kemeja dan kurung itu mula diagihkan hari ini secara berperingkat kepada 10 sekolah rendah di dalam DUN Jeram.
![Malu sangat ke berbaju Melayu? Malu sangat ke berbaju Melayu?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-01/71547177167_BAJUMELAYU.jpg)
Malu sangat ke berbaju Melayu?
Bentuk pakaian Melayu tidak kira untuk lelaki mahupun perempuan adalah suatu bentuk yang sangat mesra dengan tubuh badan kita.
![#MarilahMari: Kempen pakai busana tradisional dapat sambutan pengundi #MarilahMari: Kempen pakai busana tradisional dapat sambutan pengundi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-05/51525855096_ElidaBustaman.jpg)
#MarilahMari: Kempen pakai busana tradisional dapat sambutan pengundi
Kempen memakai busana tradisional semasa membuang undi yang dilancarkan di platform media sosial dengan hashtag #marilahmari mendapat sambutan hangat.
![KL2017: Lawanya baju, bangga! Netizen kagum busana Kontinjen Malaysia KL2017: Lawanya baju, bangga! Netizen kagum busana Kontinjen Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-08/41503194432_bajuatletzz.jpg)
KL2017: Lawanya baju, bangga! Netizen kagum busana Kontinjen Malaysia
Ahli kontinjen kelihatan segak memperagakan busana kebanggaan rakyat Malaysia.
![Industri tekstil dahaga tenaga mahir Industri tekstil dahaga tenaga mahir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-02/71425103525_295x200.jpg)
Industri tekstil dahaga tenaga mahir
Tenaga mahir dalam sektor tekstil atau lebih khusus tukang jahit mahir adalah elemen penting dalam memastikan kelangsungan penawaran produk industri fesyen untuk terus berjaya.
![Baju kurung: Tiada salah faham, kata pak cik pelajar Baju kurung: Tiada salah faham, kata pak cik pelajar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-01/61421456319_295x200.jpg)
Baju kurung: Tiada salah faham, kata pak cik pelajar
Larangan pemakaian baju kurung untuk pelajar bukan Melayu adalah kerana ia 'lebih menonjol' daripada 'pinafore' atau pakaian seragam sekolah.