A nurse has claimed that a private hospital sacked her because she insisted on wearing a long-sleeved uniform in compliance with the Islamic rule for women to cover their bodies or aurat.

Naziah Sauni Samat, 24, said the hospital management wanted her to don short-sleeves instead.

"I believe it is my right to wear long-sleeves. The management asked me to cut, cut and cut, until the entire hospital asked me to do so as well.

"In the end, my employment was terminated," Naziah told a press conference at the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) office in Kuala Lumpur today.

Prior to her dismissal, she said, the hospital did not state that long-sleeved uniforms were not allowed.

According to her, she was only told that she needed to wear a white uniform, tudung (headscarf), shoes and socks.

Clothes, too, subject to infection

Furthermore, Naziah claimed the management also disallowed her from wearing 'arm sleeves' ( stokin lengan ) to cover the exposed part of her arm.

She said the management told her that long-sleeves increased the risk of infection for patients.

However, she pointed out that nurses with Hospital Kuala Lumpur are allowed to wear long-sleeved uniforms.

"If you want to talk about infection control, clothes, hats and ties should also be subjected to infection control. When I do work, I fold my sleeves," she said.

Meanwhile, PPIM’s chief activist Nadzim Johan said the association had met with the hospital management.

"We are surprised with this institution. In the context of our constitution (we must follow the Islamic way). But if we are in the United Kingdom, we have to follow the way there, follow their constitution," Nadzim said.

He urged the Health Ministry and Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to explain the matter.

Malaysiakini is contacting the Kuala Lumpur-based hospital for comment.