Sacked nurse Naziah Sauni Samat said she is ready to face legal action from her former employer Damai Service Hospital (Taman Melawati).

Naziah said she was sacked for using arm sleeves ( stokin lengan ) to cover her aurat (Muslim code of modesty), but the hospital says she was terminated for disciplinary issues.

“I am ready to be sued. I am not afraid because I know what I did and I know I am not in the wrong,” she said when contacted.

The 24-year-old added that she will also lodge a complaint against her former employer with the Labour Department today.

Naziah’s case became public after she complained to NGO Muslims Consumers’ Association that she was not allowed to cover her aurat at work, because the uniform had short sleeves.

Damai Service Hospital (Taman Melawati), however, claimed they terminated Naziah because she did not turn up work for two days in a row.

Suspension letter

However, Naziah today told Malaysiakini that she did not show up for work because she was issued a suspension letter after she came to work in the arm sleeves to cover her forearms.

She said she informed the hospital during interview process that she would not be interested in the job if she is only allowed to use short sleeves and a small scarf, which exposes her neck.

“I was honest with them at the point, but the management told me I can wear long sleeves as long as it is part of the uniform.

“Hospital regulations do not state that I have to wear short sleeves,” she said.

The hospital earlier said nurses must wear short sleeves to control risk of infections, and that it had informed Naziah that this was the case when they hired her.

Separately, Damai Service Hospital (HQ) Sdn Bhd in a statement clarified that it is a different entity from Damai Service Hospital (Taman Melawati).

The two hospitals parted ways in 1990, and now have different owners and management teams despite sharing the same name.

It added that nurses at Damai Service Hospital (HQ) located at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur can choose to wear short or long-sleeved uniforms.

“We respect all our Muslim patients and staff in any aspects of their religion and belief,” it said.

Damai Service Hospital (HQ) is a separate entity