BN lawmaker Bung Moktar Radin, who is known for his political incorrectness, has struck again, this time on the issue of female Muslim hotel staff being barred from wearing headscarves.

According to the Kinabatangan MP, a “beautiful woman” would still look attractive even if she wears a headscarf.

“Kalaupun dia tidak cantik, telanjang pun, siapa tak mahu (Even if she is not pretty, if she is nude, who wouldn't want (her)?” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

Bung said foreign hotels should follow the rules in Malaysia when operating here as well as respect the cultures and religions.

“Why oppress (staff) in this manner?” he asked when debating Budget 2018.

Bung also called for stern action to be taken against hotels that impose such rules on its staff.

Last week, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz (photo) called the policy disrespectful and discriminatory, sarcastically questioning if it were better for frontline staff to be in the nude rather than wear headscarves.

Bung echoed the sentiment, saying "I borrow quotes from Nazri who said they were being disrespectful. They were biadap (rude)."

"I think they are living at the Stone Age. They need to be taught a lesson. And the first lesson is to revoke their license so they realise that they are no good," he said.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar had earlier urged local councils to revoke the operating licences of hotels with such policies.

Bung noted that international hoteliers should adhere to local rules and regulations when they open up branches in Malaysia, adding that who insist on carrying on with discriminatory practices should do business elsewhere.

The Umno supreme council member also said that the status of Islam as the official religion of the federation should be made known to those coming into Malaysia to do business.

He called for the government to amend the existing laws and regulations to stop such discriminatory policies.

"This (headscarf ban) happened because the laws and regulation are so loose. Amend them immediately," he said.

The Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) said in the wake of the controversy that students in hospitality and tourism courses were instructed to remove their headscarves before going on internships or risk not being hired.

As a result, some employees had no choice but to remove their headscarves during work, before putting them back on after their shifts ended.

Malaysian Hotels Association (MAH) president Samuel Cheah, however, was quoted as stating that the uniform policy has long been common practice in international hotel chains.