PAS MP Draws Backlash After Sparking Controversy With Remarks On Nurses’ Uniforms
He called for revisions to the dress code for nurses, claiming that it was too tight and not in accordance with shariah law.
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It appears that a parliamentary session would be deemed incomplete without the opposition raising matters that would rile up Malaysians.
During a parliamentary session today, PAS MP Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan) raised a complaint regarding the uniforms worn by nurses, stating that they “show their body shape.”
He called for revisions to the dress code for nurses, claiming that it was too tight and not in accordance with shariah law.
This remark was made while discussing the highly anticipated health white paper, which focuses on reforms for the public health sector.
I would like to ask (whether) we are going to keep following the Western mold on the dress code (for nurses)? Can’t it be changed so that some relaxations (on the dress code) can be given?
PAS MP Wan Razali Wan Nor
Unsurprisingly, these comments immediately drew backlash from not just netizens but also from several political figures as well as health experts.
Taking to his Twitter page, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii slammed Wan’s comments, saying that instead of debating on the importance of healthcare reforms, Wan chose to talk about tight and sexy uniforms instead.
So in debating the importance of healthcare reforms and to future-proof our healthcare system… an PAS MP talked about how nurses’s uniforms are too tight and sexy…and was agreed & supported upon by another PAS MP.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii
Yii also added that he found it hard to understand how one who goes to a hospital to seek treatment because of sickness, could somehow be ‘aroused’ by the uniform of a nurse.
Also chipping in was Bentong member of parliament Young Syefura Othman who tweeted that she felt abhorred at the sexist comments made by Wan.
She added that PAS MPs should instead find ways to better the livelihoods of the people of Malaysia rather than make indecent statements such as the one made by Wan earlier today.
Saya kesal dengan sikap seksis sebegini. Sebaiknya MP PAS mencari cara untuk menambah baik hidup rakyat bukan membuat kenyataan tidak senonoh. Banyak lagi masalah yang lebih serius dlm sektor kesihatan.
Bentong member of parliament Young Syefura Othman
According to Young, Malaysian nurses’ uniforms were already Syariah compliant and comfortable to wear while they carry out their daily activities as healthcare providers at hospitals.
Yang patut dibicarakan mengenai tugas jururawat yang semakin membebankan pada ketika ini. Bukan tentang pakaian jururawat. Apa MP PAS ini hanya melihat keutamaan pada pakaian saja kah?
Bentong member of parliament Young Syefura Othman
Meanwhile, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib tweeted that PAS’ concern for the issue of clothing rather than the issues that the healthcare workers face was more concerning.
During the Health White Paper debate in DR today, I did not expect the perceived tightness of nurses’ uniforms & the imagined shape of their bodies to be brought up by the MP for Kuantan. Temerloh later supported it. Something wrong when this is what they are concerned abt
Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib
This however, was not PAS’ first attempt at making what was labelled as sexist remarks about female workers’ uniforms.
Back in 2018, PAS MP Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi made a comment on the attire of air stewardesses being too sexy and revealing.
He had asked Transport Minister Anthony Loke in parliament whether he agreed that the uniforms of Malaysian flight attendants were too revealing, to which Loke replied that this was a subjective matter and that if Che Abdullah found the uniforms revealing, he should look away.
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