SHAH ALAM – When it comes to swimwear selection, it is a subject that may be considered sensitive, yet authorities emphasise the necessity for the public to comprehend that the design and material of swimwear play a pivotal role in ensuring safety during swimming.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Assistant Superintendent Mohd Khairulnizam Zainodin highlights the importance of making informed choices when it comes to swimwear.
He said the right design and material could significantly contribute to averting mishaps while engaging in aquatic activities.
Khairulnizam said authorities realised that people would typically wear what they have without much thought for safety when they go swimming. Therefore, he said choosing an inappropriate attire in terms of design and material for swimming may increase the risk of drowning.
"People typically wear what they have and if they're a Muslim (women), they might wear tudung (headscarf) and a loose-fitting attire.
"In public spaces, people often choose their clothes without much thought, considering cultural and religious factors.
"So, when we want to share about something that links to attire, it is kind of difficult. So we just inform the public about these things at random," he said when contacted.
However, at swimming pools, a different set of rules were in place where suitable attires were necessary for safety reasons.
He said even a safety guard faced tough situations to rescue a drowning victim due to the victim's swimwear choice.
Khairulnizam urged the public to wear suitable swimwears for safety purposes, suggesting people to opt for elastic swimwear.
"Wear comfortable swimwears and avoid wearing attires that will be like a 'balloon' (traps air) when you enter the water.
"It is better to wear the elastic type, but it all goes back to the individual.
"For the Muslimahs, they avoid wearing tight swimming attires and prefer wearing the lose-fitting ones. But there are also lose-fitting swimwears available and they can opt for that when they go swimming.
"Do not choose swimwears that you might find yourself struggling in while you swim or that could make you drown," he told Sinar Daily.
Khairulnizam was responding to a 45-second video which went viral on social media showing a girl who almost drowned while she was swimming in Sungai Sedim in Kulim, Kedah.
In the video, the girl who wore a long-sleeve pink blouse was seen struggling to stay afloat after her headscarf was seen covering her face.
She was rescued by the other visitors who noticed that she was struggling.
The girl then immediately pulled her 'tudung' from her face in order to breathe.