MIC leader gives five-star shelling to hotel association over headscarf rule

A MIC leader has criticised the Malaysian Association of Hotels with regard to Muslim women employees being barred from wearing headscarves.

S Vell Paari claimed the remark by the association's chairperson Samuel Cheah that Muslim employees can work in the backhouse or with hotels which incorporate headscarf in their uniform was irresponsible and bordering on racism.

“He is effectively telling Muslim women to find work in another hotel if they can't adhere to the no- headscarf policy. May I remind Cheah that Malaysia is a multiracial country and any form of discrimination against any religion will not be tolerated.

The MIC treasurer-general said having travelled abroad to numerous countries, he had seen Muslim women wearing the headscarf at five-star hotels and there had been no issue.

“One's professionalism does not drop just because one is wearing a headscarf and observing her religious requirement,” he added.

Vell Paari (photo) said if the hotels association is so concerned over the SOP of international five-star hotels, then it should ensure that Malaysian employees are paid “five-star” wages to match the salaries in London, New York and so forth.

“I would also like to remind the association that these five-star hotels operate in the Middle East as well but there has been no issue with Muslim women wearing headscarves there. So why is it an issue in Malaysia?” he added.

Vell Paari also noted how there was a huge public outcry over a laundrette in Johor which catered exclusively to Muslim customers.

“Therefore, it is now also time for us to oppose this blatant discrimination against Muslim women in Malaysia,” he added.

Vell Paari also urged the government to request the association to disclose which five-star hotels ban the wearing of headscarves.

The MIC leader was responding to Cheah's comments in a Nov 11 report in the Star. The latter was commenting on the Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) highlighting complaints received from female hotel employees that their management does not allow them to wear headscarves at work.

UNI-MLC also said students in hospitality and tourism courses have also been instructed to remove their headscarves before going on internships or the company would not hire them.

As a result, some employees had no choice but to remove their headscarf during work before putting it back on after their shift ended.

Meanwhile, Cheah argued that the uniform policy has been practiced in international hotel chains for a long time.

“This policy is practiced in international hotel chains that use the same standard operating procedure on uniforms in all the hotels in their chain globally.

"The problem is everyone wants to join the five-star global hotel brand, but they do not want to follow the uniform policy that is their worldwide standard," he added.- Mkini