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Nurse Naziah Sauni Samat, 24, says she was sacked for wearing a long-sleeved uniform.
Damai Service Hospital (Melawati) says she was sacked for being absent for 2 consecutive days without notice.
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11 December 2015
Malaysiakini
PPIM mocks short sleeves for nurses, proposes short skirts and bikinis
Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) has mocked private hospitals’ insistence that their nurses wear short sleeves, proposing that they take it further by mandating short skirts and bikinis.
PPIM chief Nadzim Johan said this in reference to Damai Service Hospital finance and administration manager Regina Sundram who said the rule was due to hygiene reasons.
“Based on Regina Sundram’s statement, then nurses would do better to wear sleeveless shirts and short skirts or bikinis.
“That will surely make patients excited,” he said in a statement tonight.
Nadzim then appended in his statement photographs of women in sleeveless shirts and nurses in short skirts.
He also rubbished that nurses wearing long sleeves will increase the risk of infection, calling it “nonsense”.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/323089
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10 December 2015
Malay Mail Onlime
I’ll see you in court, nurse sacked over dress complaint tells hospital
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 ― Sacked nurse Naziah Sauni Samat is ready to battle her former employer in court over her sudden dismissal following her refusal to wear a short-sleeved uniform at work.
The former nurse with Damai Service Hospital (Melawati) believes she was right to publicise her complaint about the dress code, which she insists was an infringement of her right to observe her religion and is prepared to be sued.
“I am ready. I will take them on,” Naziah told Malay Mail Online in a phone interview.
“I have all the proof. I am on the right side,” she added.
But Naziah said she has yet to receive any letter from the hospital.
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9 December 2015
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The long and short of a nurse’s sleeves
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The hospital’s finance and administration manager, Regina Sundram, told Malaysiakini that their staff have also been receiving a lot of threatening phone calls since the news on the nurse Naziah came to public attention.
Aside from referring to studies by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Malaysiakini also talked to several nurses to answer important questions related to the issue at hand.
In this case, there are several important questions that must be answered with regard to the renewed debate on the obligations of a Muslim woman to cover her ‘aurat’ in the context of the nursing profession.
Issue No 1: Why do some hospitals require medical staff to wear short sleeves?
This general rule is based on the need to prevent and control infections of hospital-acquired diseases among patients receiving treatment at a particular hospital.
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The basic principle of infection prevention and control is hygiene. Long sleeves, as well as other items such as wristwatches, rings, jewellery and neck ties are generally not allowed to be worn when coming in contact with a patient.
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In Malaysia, this includes requiring nurses to roll-up their long sleeves when performing specific procedures that involve bodily contact with a patient, as well as when maintaining a high level of hand hygiene.
Issue 2: How many hospitals in Malaysia allow long sleeves for staff?
All government hospitals nationwide do, depending on their area of work.
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In response to Naziah’s case, Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya was quoted as saying that all Muslim nurses at government hospitals are required to cover their ‘aurat’.
Hilmi said nurses at private hospitals are also bound by a similar regulation enforced through the Health Ministry’s Private Health Practice Department.
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Issue 3: Balancing religious obligations with work requirements
There is an increasing number of hospitals, including those in the private sector, that are promoted as Muslim-friendly facilities.
These hospitals provide assistance for both staff and patients to perform their religious obligations as Muslims under the restricted circumstances.
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For more:
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/322686
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Malaysiakini
Hospital vandalised over religious issue a sad indictment
YOURSAY | ‘The very fabric of the country is being torn apart at the seams.’
Hospital splashed with white paint over uniform row
Iiiizzzziiii: What a sad, sad incident to have taken place here. A hospital is not a place to vent anger. It is place of healing, hope and to ease suffering. A vindictive action like this does not augur well for the future of this country.
This is a reflection that the very fabric of the country is being torn apart at the seams. It has taken years to build tolerance and understanding among the various ethnic groups in Malaysia and this can be destroyed in a few days with an action like this.
To the authorities, how are you going to handle this? Yes, you can expect what kind of statement they will issue but then again, what do you expect when race supremacy is at the core of this situation.
It is never about religion first, religion has become an excuse. It has always been bumiputera first, all else is secondary. What kind of future awaits Malaysia?
Mojo Jojo: It’s simply amazing to see the level of maturity some people possess in this country.
Not long after former nurse Naziah Sauni Samat proclaims that she is sacked for refusing to wear short sleeves during work, we see this incident occurring at the hospital’s front entrance.
Coincidence? I think not. It might almost seem far-fetched to compare the mindset of the perpetrators of this incidental paint job to Isis.
But while both parties differ in action, they share one common principle: It’s my way or the highway.
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Alfanso: Come on hospital, keep the security guards on alert. You will never know what this country is turning into.
Next time, a nurse doesn’t come to work, it will be an issue. You scold her, also an issue. You don’t promote her, even she is just fit to be a cleaner, will be an issue. What to do?
So you let them be, this is why this country is turning out sub-standard workers.
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Anonymous_1388029052: Perkasa, Isma, PPIM, Pekida, etc, please come out in full force and condemn this cowardly act. Malay and Islamic dignity at stake.
Anonymous #70881335: Whatever the problem is, violence is never the answer. It will bring us down to the level of thugs and barbarians, and untold misery to many.
Just a Malaysian: A simple road accident becomes a racial issue. A simple discipline problem becomes a religious conflict.
Politicians, in order to protect themselves, have created a tinderbox of racial and religious issues waiting to blow up.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/322672
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8 December 2015
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Worse things may happen than paint attack: PPIM’s warning
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Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) chief activist Nadzim Johan is not surprised that paint was splashed on the Damai Service Hospital (Melawati) building this morning.
“I warned that this would happen, that worse things may happen. I even told police this. This is what happens when authorities don’t take immediate action on racial issues,” he told Malaysiakini.
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Nadzim said he did not agree with the paint splashing, but said people would retaliate against the hospital using whatever means they can.
“We (PPIM) are taking legal action against the hospital. Maybe they (the attackers) don’t have the means to do this, so they do what they can,” he said.
Based on CCTV footage, the hospital was vandalised by four men who threw two pails of white paint on two separate entrances of the hospital building.
The pair had escaped on two motorcycles, but the number plates were not legible.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/322644
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Hospital splashed with white paint over uniform row
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The entrances at the Damai Service Hospital (Melawati) were splashed with white paint early this morning, said the hospital’s finance and administration manager Regina Sundram.
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Sundram said that at 3.30am, four men on two motorcycles threw pails of white paint at two separate entrances of the hospital building.
“It happened very fast, within a minute. There was a loud bang, by the time I ran out to see, they were gone,” she told Malaysiakini.
The hospital has CCTV footage of the incident, but Sundram said they could not make out the plate number of the motorcycles.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/322545
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7 December 2015
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Nurse ready to face legal action over sleeves issue
Sacked nurse Naziah Sauni Samat said she is ready to face legal action from her former employer Damai Service Hospital (Taman Melawati).
Naziah said she was sacked for using arm sleeves (stokin lengan) to cover her aurat (Muslim code of modesty), but the hospital says she was terminated for disciplinary issues.
“I am ready to be sued. I am not afraid because I know what I did and I know I am not in the wrong,” she said when contacted.
The 24-year-old added that she will also lodge a complaint against her former employer with the Labour Department today.
https://www2.malaysiakini.com/news/322444
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Malaysiakini
Damai Service Hospital (HQ) is a separate entity
Damai Service Hospital (HQ) Sdn Bhd would like to make clarification of the news stated above that has drawn a huge negative perception among the Muslims in Malaysia. Our hospital is not in any way involved in this matter. Damai Service Hospital (HQ) is a separate entity from the hospital concerned with no connection whatsoever in term of management and policy. We respect all our Muslim patients and staff in any aspects of their religion and belief.
Our nurses are given options to choose a uniform that they are comfortable with. We set no restriction on nurses wearing long or short sleeves.
In addition, our hospital has provided a surau for our Muslim patients, visitors and nurses to perform their duty as Muslims during working hours. Further, our Muslim male staffs are given two hours break for their Friday prayers. This practice has been in place since the hospital’s establishment in 1981.
Nevertheless, we have received hundreds of negative comments on our social media platform since Dec 6, 2015. We have chosen the approach to reply to each individual comment personally to ease the ‘heat’ triggered among the Muslim friends. We have also invited some of the Facebook commenters to come to our hospital to make necessary clarification with our Muslim staff.
We understand the confusion of the people of perceiving both hospitals are related. We urge the editors from various dailies to assist in clearing our name.
Damai Service Hospital HQ and Damai Service Hospital Taman Melawati were previously one entity but separated in 1990. At Damai Service Hospital HQ, nurses are allowed to wear long sleeves.)
https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/322415
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6 December 2015
Malaysiakini
Hospital to sue nurse over long-sleeves issue
Damai Hospital says it will take legal action against a nurse who claimed she was terminated after she was not allowed to wear long sleeves to observe the aurat (Muslim code of modesty).
“We will meet with our lawyers tomorrow. I have told her on Dec 3 that our lawyers will take action against any accusations and allegations she is going to make (over the matetr).
“She had a disciplinary problem from the day she joined us,” Damai Hospital human resources manager Regina Sundram told Malaysiakini.
She reiterated that the nurse, Naziah Sauni Samat, was absent for two days straight without prior notice and this was cause for dismissal.
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“We did not renew her contract for the year 2015 and 2016 because we were concerned over her emotional outburst, and its effect on the patients.
“We value the lives and safety of our patients, not their religion, economic standing, skin colour etc..” it said.
“We don’t allow long sleeves not because we are against anyone’s religion but for safety reasons,” it said.
The statement was signed by nurses Sugenthei Raman, Norzilawati Sarip, Katina Ibrahim, Uma Devi Subramaniam and Vijitra Sahadevan.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/322374
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theSundaily
Health Ministry to investigate sacked nurse claims
Last updated on 6 December 2015 – 11:16pm
GEORGE TOWN: The Health Ministry will carry out a thorough investigation on the claims made by a nurse at a private hospital who was allegedly sacked for refusing to wear short-sleeve uniform to work.
Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said action would be taken if the hospital was found to have violated the regulations of the ministry’s Private Medical Practice Division.
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“However, in this case, we do not know what the real problem is, the ministry’s Private Medical Practice Division is investigating the matter,” he told reporters after attending the Mass Circumcision ceremony organised by the Umno Jelutong division involving 45 boys here, today.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1630421
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Don’t work in private hospitals if you cannot accept dress codes, medical association tells healthcare staff
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 ― Healthcare workers who feel they cannot accept the dress code imposed by private hospitals should not work there, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has said after a Muslim nurse was sacked for refusing to wear short-sleeved uniform.
MMA president Dr Ashok Zachariah Philip said that private hospitals should be able to come up with their own dress codes without interference.
“A private hospital should be allowed to draw up their own dress codes, so long as they do not contravene any law.
“All employees should be informed about the dress code. If they feel they cannot accept it they should not accept the job,” he told Malay Mail Online via email.
He added that if dress codes are imposed, they should be based on science and patient’s well-being instead on religion.
“Any dress code in hospitals must be based on scientific evidence. If there is evidence that long sleeved tunics spread infection from patient to patient, we must see how this can be overcome,” Dr Philip added.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said his ministry has already enforced some guidelines for Muslim nurses in government hospitals.
“We have already enforced some for the Muslim nurses in government hospitals like the headgear and which area they can wear short sleeves. Private hospitals can enforce their own guidelines,” he told Malay Mail Online via phone.
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5 December 2015
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theSundaily
Issue uniform guidelines for Muslim nurses, MoH urged
Last updated on 5 December 2015 – 01:09pm
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Health Ministry have been urged to issue guidelines on uniform for Muslim nurses at government and private hospitals.
Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said this followed a case of a nurse at a private hospital who was threatened with sacking for refusing to adhere to the hospital’s dress code.
The case involving the nurse was among 20 complaints received by PPIM this year on discrimination against Muslim nurses, he told a media conference here today.
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http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1629474
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Malaysiakini
We don’t allow nurses to wear long sleeves, says hospital
A private hospital has confirmed that its dress code does not allow its nurses to wear long-sleeved uniforms.
Damai Service Hospital (Melawati) however said Naziah Sauni Samat was not sacked because she insisted on wearing long-sleeves but was instead fired due to disciplinary problems.
The hospital’s finance and administration manager Regina Sundram said Naziah did not come to work for two days consecutively without providing any reason for her absence.
“She was not sacked for wearing a long-sleeved uniform,” Regina told Malaysiakini.
“She did not tell the administration that she would be absent. As such, we consider her services as being automatically terminated,” she said, citing the Employment Act.
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Meanwhile, Regina said the hospital – which started its operations in 1989 – has existing guidelines which state that non-Muslim nurses must wear long pants and short sleeves to work while Muslim nurses must similarly wear long pants, short sleeves and a small scarf (anak tudung).
Regina said the hospital did not go against any law set by the Health Ministry in enforcing the guidelines.
“Short sleeves will prevent bacterial infection and make things easier for nurses to do their tasks,” she said.
She added that the hospital had given Naziah the opportunity to decide whether to continue working there or otherwise.
However, Naziah came to work wearing arm sleeves (stokin lengan) and had therefore gone against the hospital’s dress code.
Regina also denied charges of racism and religious bias over the issue and stressed that Naziah should have understood the hospital’s regulations.
“Don’t raise the issue of racism… Naziah had tried to do that previously,” she said.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/322245
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4 December 2015
I was fired for wearing long-sleeved uniform, claims nurse
A nurse has claimed that a private hospital sacked her because she insisted on wearing a long-sleeved uniform in compliance with the Islamic rule for women to cover their bodies or aurat.Naziah Sauni Samat, 24, said the hospital management wanted her to don short-sleeves instead.
“I believe it is my right to wear long-sleeves. The management asked me to cut, cut and cut, until the entire hospital asked me to do so as well.
“In the end, my employment was terminated,” Naziah told a press conference at the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) office in Kuala Lumpur today.
Prior to her dismissal, she said, the hospital did not state that long-sleeved uniforms were not allowed.
According to her, she was only told that she needed to wear a white uniform, tudung (headscarf), shoes and socks.
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Furthermore, Naziah claimed the management also disallowed her from wearing ‘arm sleeves’ (stokin lengan) to cover the exposed part of her arm.
She said the management told her that long-sleeves increased the risk of infection for patients.
However, she pointed out that nurses with Hospital Kuala Lumpur are allowed to wear long-sleeved uniforms.
“If you want to talk about infection control, clothes, hats and ties should also be subjected to infection control. When I do work, I fold my sleeves,” she said.
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weehingthong 
2 days or more than 2 days? It is very different. Have the ex-staff given opportunity to explain her absence??? I believe the Damai Hospital sack her because of long sleeve or arm sleeve. Muslim should boycott this damn hospital
absence without notice even for a day is considered unethical . u r the one raising racial issue here. go on boycott these guys dun lose anything
totally agree with you. hospital should give a chance to her to explain why she did absent at that period of time. not by presuming she wont work there anymore. BOYCOTT!!!