The Johor leader, Dr Boo Cheng Hau, was reportedly unhappy about Yeoh’s decision to don the headscarf during her visit to a mosque in Kuala Lumpur last week.

In response, Lim said Yeoh wasn’t wrong to wear a headscarf to the mosque.

“This is similar to how all visitors are required to cover their head with a cloth if they want to enter a gurdwara,” he said referring to the place of worship for Sikhs.

“Showing respect at a place of worship should not be seen as abandoning one’s faith.”

Lim then called on Boo to focus on more important issues such as the soaring prices of essential food items.

“I find Boo’s remarks no different to those made before by extremist and primitive PAS leaders who want to control what women can or cannot wear.

“His actions are not only gender-insensitive but also runs the risk of portraying DAP leaders as being just as intolerant and regressive as the extremist PAS leaders.

“Unfortunately, such unjustifiable criticism by one state leader has cast a bad light on the entire DAP,” he said in a statement.

Yeoh, in light of Boo’s comments, tweeted: “Wearing a ‘selendang’ when I visit a mosque doesn’t change my race or faith. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Amen.”

Boo made the negative remarks against Yeoh in a private WhatsApp group comprising Johor DAP leaders, Malaysiakini reported.

FMT has reached out to Boo for comment.