Damai Hospital says it will take legal action against a nurse who claimed she was terminated after she was not allowed to wear long sleeves to observe the aurat (Muslim code of modesty).

"We will meet with our lawyers tomorrow. I have told her on Dec 3 that our lawyers will take action against any accusations and allegations she is going to make (over the matter).

"She had disciplinary problems from the day she joined us," Damai Hospital human resources manager Regina Sundram told Malaysiakini .

She reiterated that the nurse, Naziah Sauni Samat, was absent for two days straight without prior notice and this was cause for dismissal.

Naziah, whose case was brought to public attention after she complained to the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM), denied that, claiming that she was told not to come to work.

This was after she came to work in arm sleeves (stokin lengan) to cover the part of her arms exposed due to hospital's short-sleeved uniform.

The hospital earlier said nurses are told to wear short sleeves to control risks of infection .

In a lengthy statement issued today, Damai Hospital Nursing Department said Naziah was "stubborn and insubordinate", and had refused to follow the roster or existing hospital regulations.

The department also said that Naziah was informed of the short sleeved uniform when she was hired.

'We're not an entertainment centre'

"We did not renew her contract for the year 2015 and 2016 because we were concerned over her emotional outburst, and its effect on the patients.

"We value the lives and safety of our patients, not their religion, economic standing, skin colour etc.." it said.

"We don't allow long sleeves not because we are against anyone's religion but for safety reasons," it said.

The statement was signed by nurses Sugenthei Raman, Norzilawati Sarip, Katina Ibrahim, Uma Devi Subramaniam and Vijitra Sahadevan.

The nursing department added that since the case become public, they have received calls by people requesting they only served by nurses in long sleeves.

"Now a hospital is treated like an entertainment centre where you can choose the type of nurses to serve you before a treatment is administered. This is very sad," it said.

It added that even Muslim staff of the hospital stand behind the management's decision to stand firm over the disciplinary matter.

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