A minister today branded opposition parliamentarian Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) an 'Islam hater' after she questioned the directive that all policewomen must wear the tudung (headscarf) during official parades.

During the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat this morning, Kok in a supplementary question had described last week's directive issued by Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar as a "clear example" of human rights violation.

Responding, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the directive was to ensure uniformity of dress at official parades and this was even implemented during the opening of the Parliament session every year.

"They (non-Muslim government leaders) wear the songkok, but until now they have not converted to Islam," he said.

The minister then told Kok not to inject her "hatred for Islam" into her questions.

On hearing this, Kok immediately protested and asked for the remark to be withdrawn.

"It is against Standing Order 36, under which a member of the House should not hurt the feelings of another member. This remark was made in bad faith, I merely raised this issue from a human rights perspective," she said.

However Deputy Speaker Dr Yusof Yacob merely told the minister that the remark was unnecessary.

'Dangerous precedent'

On Saturday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had backed the decision for tudung to be worn at official parades, as "part of the uniform" but said it was optional during normal duty hours.

The controversy continued to be at the centre of debate for several parliamentarians.

Debating on the Royal Address, Jimmy Donald (BN-Sri Aman) joined the criticism of the directive, saying it would be difficult for him to explain the rationale for the directive to his voters and to defend it.

The backbencher quipped about the directive, comparing the situation to that of a new boss who comes up with new policies just to prove that he is doing work.

Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) in her debate said the directive set a 'dangerous precedent' in a multi-racial society and Abdullah was wrong in claiming that the tudung was merely part of the police uniform.

"This has opened up the possibility of serious problems, especially since this is detrimental to national unity and inter-racial relations," she said, also noting that the ruling goes against the Federal Constitution and Islamic principles.

" Surah Al Baqarah 2:256 says 'there shall be no compulsion in religion'. This directive is not only against Islamic principles but will result in non-Muslims distancing themselves from Islam, rather than accepting it."

Fong, a graduate of the International Islamic University, urged Abdullah to be a 'prime minister for all ethnic groups and religions'.