KUALA LUMPUR – A government backbencher has raised concerns over the recent incident where a Chinese-Muslim eatery allegedly fired an employee after a video of the staff wearing a songkok and a necklace with a cross circulated on social media.
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat today, M. Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat-PH) cautioned that religious discrimination at the workplace could happen again if the Human Resources Ministry fails to look into the matter.
“Religious and racial issues may become a big issue if immediate action (by the ministry) is not taken.
“What I’m worried about is that one day, workers with holy ash on their forehead might face problems with their employers, resulting in their termination,” he said during his debate on the Supply Bill 2024 at the committee level.
The former human resources minister was referring to the Hindu custom of applying sacred ash on the body, especially on the forehead, as a reminder of the temporary nature of the material world.
The DAP lawmaker also urged the ministry to address the incident which happened at the Mon Chinese Beef Roti outlet in Bukit Bintang.
Pointing to how Section 60K of the Employment Act 1995 on the employment of foreign workers details an employer’s duty to furnish information and returns on foreign employees, Kulasegaran questioned if the ministry has taken any action in regards to the case.
Yesterday, Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor criticised the restaurant’s management for firing the worker.
The cleric told Scoop that if the worker was indeed fired because of the issue depicted in the viral video, the management’s actions have gone against Islamic teachings.
He also reminded Muslims to ensure that the projected image of the Islamic religion is one that upholds the positive attributes of the religion, pointing out how non-Muslims will equate attitudes displayed by Muslims with Islamic teachings.
Last Sunday, the restaurant manager, who only wished to be identified as Sofia, admitted that they “overlooked” the issue of a worker wearing a necklace bearing the cross and apologised to those who were offended or uncomfortable after watching the viral video.
While Sofia confirmed that the employee has been terminated, it is unclear if the worker was fired due to his cross necklace, as she claimed the management had sacked the worker before the video was brought to her attention.
It is also unknown if the employee involved was a local or foreign worker. – November 21, 2023