KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) should have informed the principal companies of the international hotels that prohibiting frontline Muslim workers from wearing headscarves is against the Constitution.
Minister of Tourism and Culture, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said, MAH should be advising and explaining to them (international chains) that the practice was unconstitutional.
Nazri said, he is not upset with the hotel chains because they do not know. If prohibiting headscarves for Muslim workers is not in the standard operating procedures (SOP) then they must be advised that it should not be done in Malaysia.
“What is wrong with Muslim workers wearing tudung? What are they trying to tell us?” he asked the party concerned.
Previously, MAH Chairman, Samuel Cheah Swee Hee said that the policy was practised at international hotel chains and it is a standardised procedures and uniforms worldwide.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament, Nazri said, he has not received any feedback from MAH about that issue and regarded that group’s statement as “irresponsible” and anti- Islam.
MAH’s chairman in a statement earlier had mentioned that Muslim staff could either work in non-frontline areas or choose to work in hotels without such rule.
Nazri however said, the ministry will continue to advise MAH that the policy is against the Constitution. –Malaysia World News
