COMMENT | I was walking by the corridor of a public school during one of my theatre coaching sessions recently when I spotted a few female students in shorts. The girls looked Malay and so I was pretty shocked.

You see, to the best of my knowledge, these days Malay girls aren’t allowed to wear shorts during Physical Education (PE). Most public schools encourage Muslim students to cover their aurat (modesty).

So when the teacher in charge accompanied me to my car at the end of the theatre rehearsal, I decided to ask her.

“There is no compulsion in our school. The girls can wear...