Civil Servants encouraged to don Perlis Kebaya to promote Visit Perlis Year 2024-2025

KANGAR - The Perlis government is encouraging civil servants in the state to wear the Perlis Kebaya when working as mini ambassadors to promote Visit Perlis Year (TMP) 2024-2025.

Women, Family & Community Development, Tourism, Welfare & Disaster Relief, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Wan Badariah Wan Saad said the Perlis Kebaya had been worn by the courtiers and nobles since the 1930s, and that the heritage should be preserved.

"This fashion became very popular during the reign of Raja Syed Alwi Jamalullail, the 4th Raja of Perlis (1904-1943) and it became popular among the common people to don at events such as feasts, after seeing it being styled by the upper classes.

"In conjunction with TMP 2024-2025, we hope that this Malay fashion can be popularised again so that it can be used as one of the tourist attraction products for the state and we need support from all parties, especially state civil servants," she told Bernama here today.

She said the Perlis Kebaya had its own uniqueness and was suitable for anyone due to its loose fitting and which covered the woman's body," she said.

Wan Badariah said from the front, the Perlis Kebaya looked similar to the regular kebaya and did not have seams on the shoulders.

"Apart from during working hours, the Perlis Kebaya is also suitable to be donned on official occasions and festive seasons such as celebrating the National Day, Aidilfitri and so on," she said.

Wan Badariah also called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), women's associations and heads of women's departments to opt for the Perlis Kebaya as their clothing theme when attending events or functions.

She said the effort to re-popularise the Perlis Kebaya was expected to help increase the income of the locals, especially sewing shop operators, bridal boutiques as well as housewives, who had the skills to replicate the fashion.

Meanwhile, Kota Kayang Museum director Siti Munirah Kasim said the Perlis Kebaya had gone through a long period with influences from the Arab culture, particularly the cut which covered the body and the dress had no gore (pesak) and gusset (triangular piece under the arm) in the beginning.

"The Perlis Kebaya of today has evolved, but its original characteristics are still there," she said.

Siti Munirah said the recommendation from the state government for civil servants to don the Perlis Kebaya could help maintain its identity and preserve its heritage.

"From my own experience, the Perlis Kebaya is comfortable to wear to work because of its loose fit and I encourage my staff to wear the Perlis Kebaya and Malaysian Batik shirt when on duty," she said. - BERNAMA