Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general said the story had even appeared in international media like the BBC, and had tarnished Malaysia’s image.
“It (her outfit) is like a school pinafore. The news even came out on the BBC and Washington Post. It has given a very negative impression of our country.
“Chess is a battle of the minds, not about looking at each others’ clothes,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Komtar building, here today.
The girl, who had taken part in the National Scholastic Chess Championship 2017, made headlines after she was told by the chief arbiter that her knee-length dress was “seductive” and violated the tournament’s rules.
The rules, among others, required players to portray a “dignified appearance”.
The National Scholastic Chess Championship’s tournament director Sophian A Yusuf denied he was behind the girl’s exit, as she had “voluntarily” left the competition. He claimed the girl’s parents had ignored the advice given to “change her dress”.
Lim said following the incident, the Penang Chess Association (PCA) had assured him that it did not have a strict dress code for chess players.
“We only advise all players to be smartly attired at all times at the playing hall. We do not pay much attention to the dress code,” PCA president Lee Ewe Ghee said.
“For us, so long as they are not wearing flip-flops, we are okay.”
Lee said strict dress codes were usually applied at National School Sports’ Council (MSSM) chess events.
“As far as I can remember, MSSM events do not allow participants to wear shorts,” he said.
He said the only time that the issue of a dress code had cropped up in a chess competition was during the women’s world chess championship, held in Iran, last February.
He said the contestants there were told to wear hijabs (headscarves), but this was not well-received.
“US women’s champion Nazí Paikidze decided to skip the championship due to the hijab ruling.
“For us, it is a matter of the player accepting the rules beforehand.”
PCA, a non-profit organisation, has organised international chess events in Penang for the past 30 years. More information is available at www.penangchess.com.