Kinabatangan BN MP Bung Moktar Radin said it was ridiculous for hotel operators to openly oppress Muslim staff who wanted to don the hijab..
“To me, this kind of hotel operators and management must be taught a lesson as they are being disrespectful to our country.
“If they want to conduct their business according to their own ways, they can get out.
“The ministry concerned must take heed and act firmly against such operators. Summon them and give them a warning.
“If Malaysians do business in the United States, we have to follow their ways.
“When they come to our country, they must obey our laws,” he said when debating the 2018 Budget for the urban well-being, housing and local government ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) claimed on Nov 6 that it had received complaints from female hotel employees that they were ordered to take off their headscarf while on duty.
The Malaysian Association of Hotels explained the “no hijab” policy was standard operating procedure practised in international hotel chains globally.
Bung called on the urban well-being, housing and local government ministry to draft regulations that made the granting of hotel licences dependent on fair treatment of Muslim female employees.
“This issue must be taken seriously by the government,” he said.
He said he himself had received complaints from Muslim female employees in hotels who wore the hijab that their potential was not recognised, resulting in emotional stress.
“Don’t let foreigners reap profits while we applaud, without caring for the interests of our own people.
“What’s the problem if a woman wears the tudung? If she is beautiful, she will still be beautiful even if she wears a tudung,” said Bung.
Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz, reacting to the complaints recently, described the actions of hotel managements that banned the hijab as “irresponsible and insolent”.
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