The Malaysian Marine Department today denied that foreign shipping companies are reluctant to hire local Muslim seamen, whose identity cars contain the word 'bin' (the Muslim terminology for 'son of').

"Religion has never been an issue," a spokesperson for the department told malaysiakini in response to a statement by the Malaysian Seafarers Association president Zaidi Mohd Shah.

In a Berita Harian report today, Zaidi said that 50,000 seafarers, including graduates of the Maritime Academy Malaysia, were having problems securing jobs on foreign vessels.

He listed several factors, including the 'bin' word in their identity cards which now causes concern following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

The Malaysian Maritime Association (MMA) also refuted this allegation.

"We've not received a single complaint from our members (about discrimination on religious grounds). If there is any complaint it is only about food supplied on board," said its secretary Captain Mustafa Kamal.

Quality factor

Echoing a similar stand was Southeast Asia's leading feeder containerline HUBLine which is based in Kuching.

Its managing director Dennis Ling said that religion has never played a role in the recruitment of seamen.

While it is true that Malaysian shipowners are sometimes reluctant to hire locals, he said this is however not related to religion.

"Quality is a factor and we pay more for foreign seamen," he added.

The Berita Harian report was picked up by foreign news agencies and was featured in several international publications, such as the Jakarta Post and the London-based International Maritime Online Daily News .

Zaidi and other MSA officials could not be reached for comment.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer