Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has suggested that Malaysia Airlines provide its Muslim cabin crew with the option to put on the hijab, to observe the Muslim dress code if they choose to.  

"Those who want to cover their aurat should be able to do so," Khairy, who is also Umno Youth chief, was quoted as saying by Star Online .

This echoes the request of the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam).

He was responding to a news report which quoted Umno Youth exco member Dazma Shah Daud as saying that MAS should compel Muslim female cabin crew to observe the hijab and stop serving alcohol.

Star Online , however, reported Dazma as saying that he was misquoted, and had only proposed the national carrier to provide options for the cabin crew.

                

He also reportedly said that it is discriminatory to completely bar Muslim female cabin crew from wearing the hijab to practice their faith.

He said that the cabin crew uniform should also be altered for those who want to cover their aurat.

The aurat loosely translates to parts of the body which should be hidden from members of the opposite sex.