No problem for TH hotel staff to wear kopiah, songkok - minister
There is no restrictions against any staff of Tabung Haji (TH) Kelana Jaya Hotel from wearing the songkok or kopiah while on duty, said de facto Religious Affairs Minister Idris Ahmad, in reference to the black or white head covering typically worn by Muslim men.
Taking to Facebook last night, Idris said he received feedback from Tabung Haji Board CEO Amrin Awaluddin over an internal memo that stated a THKJ staff is forbidden from wearing the songkok or kopiah while at work.
There is no restrictions against any staff of Tabung Haji (TH) Kelana Jaya Hotel from wearing the songkok or kopiah while on duty, said de facto Religious Affairs Minister Idris Ahmad, in reference to the black or white head covering typically worn by Muslim men.
Taking to Facebook last night, Idris said he received feedback from Tabung Haji Board CEO Amrin Awaluddin over an internal memo that stated a THKJ staff is forbidden from wearing the songkok or kopiah while at work.
"After I came back from Isyak prayers, I received information on THKJ's memo.
"I immediately contacted Amrin, the CEO, and this is his response: The memo was issued by the hotel's management without (asking for) feedback," said Idris.
"Actually, there is no problem, so long as it (staff attire) is clean, neat, safe, appropriate, covers their aurat, and uniformed.
"I have asked the CEO to quickly resolve this issue," he said.
Idris also shared a copy of the memorandum to THKJ's staff, signed by THKJ manager Mohamad Nazrul Nazib Nasihin, with details on a staff's dress code which must be complied with.
"This is to notify that all THKJ staff members are required to dress neatly, including wearing closed shoes and taking care of personal hygiene while on duty.
"Staff members are also requested to not wear the songkok or kopiah while on duty, unless while praying," said the memo.
I agree that if the business is not doing well, public funds may be put at risk; and we do not want that. However, there are many reasons for hotel business not doing well - not just some male staff wearing songkok and kopiah. TH have 2 hotels - one in Kelana Jaya and Movenpick in KLIA (operated by the Accor Group). Both are Shariah compliant (i.e. no alcohol, bars) and cater for their outstation hajj and umrah clients, events (difficult for every hotel operators during Covid) and business/leisure travellers. Their target customers are mostly Malay/Muslims who don’t really get bothered by songkok and skullcaps. You mentioned industry standard that need to be upheld. I fully agree but could you please define industry standard? In the Vatican City, their boarding/hotels are manned by some with priest clothings. In New York, some workers wear yarmulke, turban and surprise skullcap - it is acceptable there. Why can’t it be acceptable here? I think the industry standard is about hygiene, cleanliness, courtesy. In that regards, I can agree the part about “closed shoes” rather than sandals and flip-flops. Is it industry standard to have no alcohol in the hotel? Do you need bars, massage parlours in hotels to make them attractive? Depends on the market and target customers that you want. I see Movenpick, JW, Hilton all thriving in Mecca, some even make part of the hotel to be area of masjidil haram (i.e. vicinity of Kaabah where you can pray without having to get out of the hotel vicinity). This is how I see it: - we can and should provide constructive criticism about the way TH manages their hospitality business, if we find it sloppy, not-consumer friendly, unhygienic, etc. - we should not though use our prejudices against other religions and people of other races to not respecting their individual choice of displaying their religious affinity - within the appropriate boundaries. If we do this, there will be time when people object to Christians wearing cross, Sikh wearing turbans, etc.
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