The guideline that is specifically addressed to tourists were initially publicised in an article on the state government’s website, Teganukita, that has since been removed. — Reuters file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 — Tourists and visitors to Terengganu may have to shop for new clothes before they visit as the state government will introduce an Islamic dress code barring revealing attire.

The yet-to-be-released guideline targets women in particular although it contains rules for both genders.

According to The Star on its website today, the new dress code will be distributed soon to all travel agents both in Malaysia and in neighbouring countries.

The guideline that is specifically addressed to tourists were initially publicised in an article on the state government’s website, Teganukita, that has since been removed.

It is unclear what the specific dress code entails other than that it will be based on Islamic standards.

In The Star’s report, a source told the newspaper that both men and women need not dress entirely according to Islamic requirements, but their attire must be “decent.”

Failure to comply will result in offenders being sent to “counselling”. It is unclear if said counselling will be religious in nature.

The east coast state of Terengganu is almost entirely Malay-Muslim, with only a handful of other ethnic minorities residing there.

It is popular with tourists for the marine turtles that visit the state to nest, and for its beautiful beaches and islands such as Redang and Perhentian.

Terengganu recently made headlines, also for its enforcement of Islamic rules, when it announced that it will punish Friday prayer truancy by parading absentees in hearses to shame them.

As with neighbour Kelantan, Terengganu has hudud Islamic penal laws that are dormant due to constitutional barriers.