Despite often being accused of being a Chinese-centric party, the DAP today leapt to the defence of Muslim women denied employment because they wore the tudung (head scarf).

NONE Such discriminatory policy is wrong and the DAP is even more alarmed that such companies had defended the move based on the notion of "free market", the party's national publicity chief Tony Pua said today.

"Such excuse should be strongly condemned and is unacceptable in Malaysia, where the priority is for the creation of a society that is fair, caring, just and without discrimination.

"If a business only wants to achieve profit based on racial, religious or gender discrimination, it would be better off for such companies not to operate in this country," Pua said in a statement today.

Pua, who the MP for Petaling Jaya Utara, was responding to reports that job applications by many Muslim women to outlets at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) were rejected because they wore tudung.

"Discriminatory policies do not have space in Malaysian society and cannot be allowed to take root or become a norm," he added.