BUKIT MERTAJAM (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A woman was barred from entering the The Institute of Language and Literature (DBP) northern region office in Malaysia's state of Penang for not being properly dressed.

The Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported that the woman, who asked to be identified only as Ms Tan, insisted there was nothing wrong with her attire - a knee-length skirt.

But the security guard at the office, which is in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, refused her entry.

Ms Tan said the guard was practising double standards in the incident on Monday (April 25), because a man in a pair of shorts and slippers was allowed in.

She said there was no issue when she went to the office last week in the same dress, which is her company uniform.

She said there were also no problems with entry at the Seberang Prai Municipal Council headquarters or government agencies.

Meanwhile, the guard said that Ms Tan's skirt did not reach her knees.

DBP northern region director Abdul Nasir expressed regret over the incident, and said he would advise the guards to be more courteous to visitors.

The guards, he said, were not DBP staff and that they were from a security contractor.