THERE is nothing wrong with the uniform worn by nurses in Malaysia, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said, following a complaint by a PAS lawmaker that the attire is too tight and not shariah compliant.

Zaliha said the ministry’s priority was to provide the best service to the public.

“There is a code of ethics nurses adhere to when it comes to their uniforms and it is clear to me there is no problem.”

“We have just tabled the Health White Paper and should be focusing on what is important, which is providing the best health services to the people. For now, I do not see the uniform as an issue,” she was quoted as saying today by The Star.

While debating the White Paper of Public Health Reforms in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday, Kuantan MP Wan Razali Wan Nor said the government should consider changing nurses’ uniforms as they are too tight and not syariah compliant.

He also said the shape of a woman’s body is visible with the uniform currently worn.

“Are we still following the Western dress code? Can it be changed to allow some ‘relaxation’ of the nurses’ uniform?” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

Wan Razali said Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan and Sultan Azlan Shah Medical Centre in Kuantan, Pahang allowed its nurses options for their attire.

Since then he had come under fire for his remarks.

Former Klang lawmaker Charles Santiago said Wan Razali was being sexist.

“We should be talking about affordable and accessible healthcare for everyone. And I thought I had seen it all.

“How dare you talk about what women nurses wear? How dare you besmirch them? Do you understand how sexist this is?

“The uniform is a shared identity, where every other nurse wears a similar uniform and shares the responsibility and obligation of that profession,” he said in a tweet.

MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said it was sad that the PAS lawmaker was more concerned about the dress code of nurses than the future and sustainability of the country’s healthcare system.

“All nurses in the public sector adhere to the civil servant dress code,” Muruga Raj told The Malaysian Insight.

“We believe the nurses’ uniforms are practical as they do not restrict movement when they carry out their duties.

“In healthcare, everyone needs to be fast on their feet and at times, ready to sprint to save lives.”

The Malayan Nurses Union said the style complied with Health Ministry guidelines.

Union president Nor Hayati Abd Rashid said the nurses’ uniform was designed to be functional and comfortable.

“The rules for the uniforms are that they cannot be too tight and the length of the top must be below the buttocks. This is the guideline,” she was quoted as saying.

“The nursing supervisor will look out for this. Normally, the sisters or matrons will advise the nurses if their uniforms are too tight.”

Nor Hayati said back in the 1980s, nurses wore skirts but the dress code was changed to pants for shariah compliance.

“I am not sure what the MP was thinking when he made such a statement. This (uniform) is not new, we have been using it for a long time,” she said. – June 18, 2023.