Malaysia’s first ‘syariah-compliant’ airline Rayani Air has refuted former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that it was merely using Islam to make profits.

Its chief operating officer Sumar Lee Hashim Lee said the company was instead trying to incorporate Islamic traits in its operations, as it suits Malaysia’s image as an Islamic country.

Sumar Lee said the airline was also trying to help Malays in obtaining jobs.

The company may be owned by a Hindu, he said, but the airline's Islamic concept was inspired by four of the company’s operations staff, including himself.

“That’s Tun’s (Mahathir) view. In any business, of course, we want to make profits. But when there are claims saying that we are using Islam to gain profits, that’s just not true,” he was quoted as saying by BNBBC.my in an interview.

“We are merely bringing Islamic characteristics into the airline. For example, just look at tudung businesses like Fareeda and Naelofar; if Islamic traits are not presented, they would not be making profits."

Rayani Air's cabin crew observe the aurat (Muslim code of modesty) and the airline does not serve alcohol or pork, and also play pre-recorded recitation of Islamic prayers before departure.

Mahathir, in his interview with Free Malaysia Today earlier this week, had also questioned whether serving passengers while wearing the tudung shows that one is more Islamic.

Sumar Lee, however, queried whether it was wrong in the first place to wear the tudung.

“It’s decent, and it’s compulsory for Muslims to wear the tudung. That is one of the traits we have incorporated into Rayani Air.

“We are not trying to show that we are more Islamic. We just want to fulfil our Islamic obligations by highlighting Islamic concepts where we make it compulsory for our staff to wear the tudung," he said.

Sumar Lee added that the airline’s policies have been well received by not only its staff, but by most Malaysians especially since more Muslims wear headscarves now.