Malaysia Airlines’ stewardesses uniforms fine, says deputy minister

Deputy transport minister tells Dewan Rakyat that uniforms of Malaysia Airlines stewardesses meet the requirements of aviation safety authorities and reflect local culture.

Deputy Transport Minister Kamarudin Jaffar says uniforms worn by the flight crew should not get in the way of carrying out safety procedures. (AFP pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Airline companies are free to choose the shariah-compliant uniforms for their flight attendants provided these meet the safety standard set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), said Deputy Transport Minister Kamarudin Jaffar.

He said one of the requirements to secure a safety certificate was for the airline companies to ensure uniforms worn by the flight crew would enable them to carry out safety procedures in a set period.

“The airlines are free to choose uniforms as long as they can carry out their duties during emergency evacuation within the period set by CAAM and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“The airline’s commercial decisions are based on their respective suitability and corporate image,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

He was answering a question from Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa) who wanted to know if the uniforms of Malaysia Airlines flight stewardesses were are in accordance with Islam, the official religion of the country.

Kamarudin said in line with the “Malaysian hospitality” theme practised by Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), the kebaya uniforms worn by its air stewardesses reflected local culture.

Responding to a supplementary question from Marzuk, who urged the government to ensure shariah-compliant uniforms, Kamarudin said his ministry would work with relevant departments to continue with such efforts. -FMT