THE Human Resources Ministry has not received any complaints about a restaurant proprietor sacking its staff for wearing a crucifix at work, minister V. Sivakumar said.

“If we receive any complaints, we will look into the issue and appropriate action may be taken. Currently, there is no information from the Labour Department on this,” he was quoted as saying after an event in Shah Alam.

Last Sunday, a Chinese Muslim restaurant in Kuala Lumpur came under for terminating an employee after a video depicting a staff member wearing a songkok and a necklace with a crucifix went viral.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, former human resources minister M. Kulasegaran said action must be taken against the management of the restaurant.

The Ipoh Barat lawmaker said there are provisions in the employment act to address such dismissals.

“Has the government taken any action on this? Because as far as I remember, there is a specific provision in the employment act for the government to act on.”

“The government should take action as soon as possible,” he said.

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii described the sacking as being “highly discriminatory, against the law, and a challenge to the freedom of religion in the country”.

He said there is no legal basis to prevent non-Muslims from preparing halal food when all the strict requirements and standard operating procedure are being adhered to.

“The restaurant should have simply released a statement assuring the public that all guidelines on halal food preparation were being strictly adhered to.

“There’s no need to resort to sacking an honest worker who is simply exercising his right to express his faith,” he said. – November 23, 2023.