KUALA LUMPUR: Among the most notable aspects of the historic swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet on Monday was… the headgear sported by new Human Resources Minister, M. Kulasegaran. A chorus of netizens wondered why the DAP vice chairman did not opt for the all-purpose songkok for the official event. Kulasegaran later responded to social media queries by explaining that he was, in fact, wearing traditional Tamil headgear. An English language daily reported him as explaining that he was wearing a "thallapa," a turban traditionally worn by Tamil kings. Though not a Tamil king, Kulasegaran is a Cabinet member of a new Malaysia, and has more than earned his right to wear the thallapa.

Source: New Strait Times May 22, 2018 09:22 UTC