PARLIAMENT | The Tourism and Culture Ministry has received just one complaint thus far over the headscarf ban policy practised in certain hotels, minister Nazri Abdul Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat today.

"Up until now, the ministry only received one complaint about the headscarf ban and investigation is being carried out.

“We are collecting information about the complaint," he said.

Although not naming the errant hotel during Question Time, Nazri issued instructions to hotels to review their existing policies on the dress code of their staff.

“The ministry stresses that the relevant hotels should review their policy (so that they impose a dress code) in line with the religions, customs and cultures of our country, and not to offend the sensitivities of the people.

"Such a policy (headscarf ban) cannot be accepted, especially when it is implemented in Malaysia, where the majority of the population are Muslim," he said.

However, Nazri admitted that hoteliers with such policies can only be punished for discrimination, which is not under the jurisdiction of the Tourism and Culture Ministry.

"None of the laws my ministry can be used against those who violate the Federal Consitution.

"If there is a need, then we should discuss the possible actions that can be taken," he told the House.

Later at an event, when asked if the option to for flight attendants to wear headscarves applied to all airlines in the country, Nazri repeated his comments from yesterday and warned against restrictions on the headgear.

“In this country, the Constitution rules. In the Constitution, there is freedom of religion.

“So don’t do anything that is against the Constitution...do not have SOPs (standard operating procedures) that bar (women from wearing headscarves),” he said today after launching the inaugural KL Biennale 2017 at the National Visual Arts Gallery.