KUALA LUMPUR, 15 Nov 2017:
Any policy banning the wearing of the hijab – which was reported to have been raised by the Malaysian Association of Hotels – is contrary to the Federal Constitution.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki described as baseless the policy of barring Muslim women working in some hotels in the country from wearing the hijab.
He said the stand of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is clear on the matter – based on the status of Islam in the country and the principle of religious freedom.
“It must be understood that the wearing of the hijab in Islam is an obligation and is an integral part of religious requirement,” he said when winding up the 2018 Supply Bill at committee level in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Asyraf Wajdi was answering to a question from Datuk Dr Khairudin Aman Razali (PAS-Kuala Nerus) on Jakim’s stand on the issue of wearing the hijab.
– Bernama