Stop policing what we wear, says women’s group

 

Sisters in Islam said Kuala Krai MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman abused his position in Parliament to raise issues on his personal values and beliefs. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: The policing of women’s attire is a never-ending issue in the country, a women’s rights group lamented following criticisms that the uniform worn by Malaysian stewardesses was “too revealing”.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) said the issue of a woman’s dressing had somehow taken priority over other concerns.

Its communications officer, Aleza Othman said the Dewan Rakyat should instead be used by parliamentarians to discuss more critical issues such as the rising cost of living, domestic abuse, student safety and sexual harassment.

“Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman should not abuse his position in Parliament to raise issues on his personal values and beliefs,” she told FMT, referring to the PAS Kuala Krai MP.

“Malaysia is a democratic and multi-ethnic country.”

SIS held the view that ministerial directives should not interfere with a company’s policy and a process that would incur extra rebranding and production costs unless there were issues of safety, health and security.

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia vice secretary-general S Shashi Kumar said Latiff’s complaint was “nonsensical”.

He also wondered what Latiff implied when he said the uniforms were “too revealing” and asked if the latter could explain what he meant.

He said Malaysia Airlines flight attendants wore the baju kebaya, which he said had become a fashion statement in Southeast Asia. “Royal Brunel Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia have adopted the baju kebaya as the uniform for their female flight attendants.”

He said this was not the first time PAS had come up with such statements in Parliament. The Islamic party should instead focus on the situation in the country, which was still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

“These are the priorities PAS should be looking into as part of the government of the day, instead of talking about uniforms. It’s time for PAS to change their mentality, instead of looking at everything in a negative perspective and manner.”

However, an academic vocal on Islamic issues said that from a religious perspective, the MP did no wrong in raising the issue.

Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi said in Malaysia when one spoke about the need of covering the ‘aurat’, it referred to the hair and parts of the body.

He said if one were to ask 100 muftis or clerics in the country, “all would likely agree” with Latiff.

“That said, there is a need to respect what people choose to wear and how they choose to represent themselves in public”.

This includes airlines, he said, adding that they should also realise that when it comes to attire, “what worked then, may not work now”.

“We need to ask what is the role of the stewardess, and if they would be impeded from doing their job if they wore something else.

“One’s religious conviction is neither right nor wrong, but it should be accepted by all.”

On Wednesday, Latiff questioned the government’s stand on the uniforms of Malaysian air stewardesses which he described as being “too revealing”.

Latiff was asking about the rights of Muslim air stewardesses who were required to wear uniforms that do not ‘tutup aurat’, The Star reported. - FMT