Global Courant
An opposition MP in Malaysia received flak after complaining that nurses’ uniforms were “too tight” and not syariah-compliant, with politicians, medical staff and the public criticizing him for his sexist remarks and telling him to focus on more important issues such as health care reforms.
Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) politician Wan Razali Wan Nor had raised the issue in parliament on Thursday during a debate on public health sector reform, pointing out that the current dress showed the woman’s body shape.
“Are we going to continue to follow the western style of the dress code (for nurses)? Can it be changed so that there are some relaxations (on the dress code)?” he said.
Hours after his comments, the brickbats came in fast and furious.
“Even if the nurses wear burlap sacks as their uniforms, PAS leaders will find fault with it,” said Facebook user Zuai Md Noor, while Twitter user Tok Perak said the MP has humiliated the nursing profession with his remarks.
Twitter user Long Tapir Tension said, “Ask all nurses to boycott (this) PAS MP if he is sick and needs hospitalization.”
Another netizen, Mr. Mervin Yap, said that Mr. Wan Razali chose to focus on an unimportant matter.
“There are so many problems (facing the profession, like) medical staff being overworked, underpaid and so on, but our legislators are focusing on the points that are least important and have no impact on our heroes,” he said on Facebook .
Some social media users poked fun at Mr Wan Razali by posting memes of women in sexy cosplay nurse costumes, pointing out that this was what the MP and his PAS colleagues saw in their minds.
Ms. Young Syefura Othman of the Democratic Action Party, Bentong’s MP, said the uniforms are syariah-compliant and designed so that the nurses can perform their duties comfortably.
“What is worth talking about is the increasingly difficult tasks of nurses at the moment. Not about the nurses’ outfit. Does this PAS Member of Parliament only see clothing as a priority?” she asked.
Her colleague, Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah, demanded that Mr Wan Razali retract his misguided remarks and apologize to the nurses in Malaysia.
