Nurses' uniforms practical, focus on more important health issues - MMA

The nurses’ uniforms in the public sector are meant for practicality when carrying out their duties, said the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

MMA president Dr Muruga Rajathurai pointed out that there are more important healthcare issues to focus on, rather than the dress code of nurses.

“It is sad that amid nationwide concern over the future and sustainability of our healthcare system, an MP is more concerned about the dress code of nurses.

“All nurses in the public sector adhere to the civil servant dress code.

“We believe the Health Ministry nurse uniforms are practical as it does not seem to restrict movement when nurses carry out their duties,” he said in a statement today.

“In healthcare, everyone needs to be fast on their feet and at times ready to sprint to save lives,” he added.

Muruga was responding to Kuantan MP Wan Razali Wan Nor, who yesterday said women nurses’ uniforms are too “tight”, and not syariah compliant.

He had also questioned why Malaysia was following “Western standards”.

Wan Razali pointed out there are several hospitals which allowed their nurses to wear more appropriate uniforms, in his debate on the Health White Paper in the Dewan Rakyat.

Temerloh MP Salamiah Mohd Nor also supported his suggestion.

‘Uniform updated to fit Eastern norms’

In a separate statement today, Johor DAP vice-chairperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said Wan Razali’s remark was not entirely wrong but that it is unfair to say we are following Western standards when it comes to nurses’ uniforms.

It is worth noting that Sheikh Umar’s wife used to work as a nurse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Johor DAP vice-chairperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali and his wife

He said nurses’ uniforms in Malaysia have come a long way since 20 years ago.

He highlighted that all Health Ministry nurses no longer don skirts but are now wearing long pants and allowed to wear headscarves.

Even in the operating theatre, he said nurses are allowed to wear headscarves instead of the “OT cap”.

Such improvements were surely made based on religious awareness and Eastern norms, Sheikh Umar argued.

“The question of whether (the uniforms) are too tight or not, for me, we should not overly label let alone punish.

“With baju kurung, for example, there are those who choose baju kebaya, baju kurung pahang, baju kurung kedah, kebarung and so on. We are okay (with that),” he said.

The same applies to the uniforms in the public sector, with each one being different, he added.

“If the Kuantan MP’s eyes so easily judge the appearance of our nurses, maybe he can suggest that only men can work as nurses after this,” Sheikh Umar quipped. - Mkini