Malaysia Airlines Urged to Allow Hijab

Members of Malaysia’s largest political party United Malays National Organization have called for allowing hijab for Malaysia Airlines stewardesses and an alcohol ban, calls that were endorsed by state officials and MAS managers.

“We suggest that the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) management allow or require their Muslim air stewardesses to wear a headscarf and uniforms that cover the body,” UMNO Youth exco Dazma Shah Daud, told the Malay Mail Online on Tuesday, August 26.

Daud cited several airlines in Muslim countries like Brunei, Saudi Arabia and Iran that obligates stewardesses to wear hijab.

“We should not be afraid of business being affected because we must be confident with God’s will if we follow it,” said Dazma.

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.

Daud of Umno said that he was misquoted when media cited his demand to make hijab compulsory for Muslim female flight attendants.

“What I said was that those who want to wear hijab should be able to do so as there are instances where Muslim female flight attendants in MAS who wear the hijab outside of work have to take their hijab off while flying,” he was quoted by The Star Online.

Along with calls to allow hijab, Umno Youth religious bureau chairman Azmir Yuzaimi Mohd Yunos has urged MAS and other airlines to stop serving alcoholic drinks on board.

Yunos also called MAS to recite prayers before each flight.

“Saudi Airlines, for example, requires their pilots to say a prayer (for Muslims) before flying. Why can’t we leave it to God in each flight? As a Muslim, we need to ask protection from Him,” Yunos said.

Malaysia has a population of nearly 26 millions, with Malays, mostly Muslims, making up nearly 60 percent.

Support

Umno calls were supported by Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin who said that MAS should give stewardesses the “option to wear hijab“.

“Those who want to cover their body should be able to do so,” said Khairy, who is also Umno Youth chief.

On the other hand, MAS Employees Union (Maseu) executive secretary Mohd Jabbarullah Abd Kadir endorsed Umno’s demands to prevent alcohol during flights.

“We’ve already brought this up to MAS’s top management since before. It’s not new, but if there are some who propose this, Maseu will support it,” Jabbarullah was quoted as saying.

Umno proposals followed two fatal accidents of Malaysian airways flights in which dozens were killed, while others still missing.

Last month, all 298 on board Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight MH17 were killed, including 193 Dutch nationals.

The West accuses Russian-backed separatists of shooting down the plane, while Moscow blames Ukraine.

Three months earlier, flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers, including two infants, and 12crew, went missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing about an hour after taking off from the KL International Airport earlier this month.

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