On the Malaysian Hijab

Observing modern Malay women is a treat for the eyes.

In Kuala Lumpur, from what I have seen almost all Malay (i.e. not Indian, Chinese or Farang) women wear the hijab and some of them are covered from head to toe in a black niqab that only displays the woman's eyes, hands, and feet.

About one third of young Malay women wear make-up, have perfectly curved eyebrows, elegantly manicured fingernails, and despite several layers of clothing they look very slim and attractive. This applies even more to those I saw wearing the niqab. In the Suria shopping mall at the foot of Petronas Towers, I observed quite a few fully covered women strolling with their husbands from one jewellery shop to another. Their hands were laden with gold and jewellery. Female vanity knows no bounds or veils.

Female islamic dress code was introduced in Malaysia quite recently and as such it represents a fascinating phenomenon. In fact, the Malay traditional dress is nothing like the hijab or burqa or niqab at all.

The Kebaya is a lovely colourful long-sleeved blouse made of silk or chiffon (or some other light material), decorated with embroidered flowers. It reaches as far as the woman's hips, covering the upper part of a long skirt (again decorated with flowers). As a finishing touch and to emphasize female elegance, the women usually wear textile or freshly-cut flowers in their hair.

Source: http://media.photobucket.com/image/malay%20Kebaya/ezani79/DSC00011.jpg

However, failure to wear the hijab is seen as a sinful act in today's Malaysia where the majority of the population are Muslims (55% - 60%) and the official religion is Islam.

On various portals arguing against the hijab in Southeast Asia, I read that the hijab was originally designed for arid, desert areas as protection against the desert sands. However, there is no purpose for it in hot and humid Malaysia, where you mainly need to lose moisture to stay cool.

But, still, I like the way Malay women adapted it in their own special way.

In Malaysia, a truly princess-like female fashion has been born out of necessity. The local magasines are full of tips and tricks on how to look irrestistible in your hijab and there are plenty of fabrics, patterns, and colours you can pick from.

Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuhqW6E9iuOClot5n2ndvWK4MrTz3Lmz0Chs7v5Jh7lGLCNiBo3gWsofUkbWJsiznZQcDT2cemevnHJKM8nKL5DiT8-m_0mXgU3H-ewlOHyvvc003n-OshCkttEB2vdUOiukcvpyFLUs/s1600-h/style27.jpg

Plus, of course, the loveliest female shirts I have ever seen can be found at Istanasa (?), a retailer shop selling the best of Asian casual wear.

On many occasions, I felt tempted to try on a hijab and to see how my face and body would look. But I'm afraid I would look far from elegant. To look attractive in a hijab, a woman has to nurture her face and hands much more than the one that shows her hair. The less you show, the more others will notice what little there is on display.
 
Anyway, I will miss the colours of the hijab in Prague. I will find secular practical Czech clothes just that little bit dull.