Do not look at airline stewardess if you think attire is indecent, Minister tells PAS MP

Anthony Loke. -Bernama filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: A PAS lawmaker was told not to look at air stewardesses if their attire was deemed to be too revealing and indecent (menjolok mata).

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said there are no plans thus far by the Government to amend policies related to the uniforms of air hostesses.

Tumpat PAS lawmaker Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi had asked Loke to comment if the Minister felt that uniforms of Malaysian flight attendants were too revealing, compared to their international counterparts.

"Do you find them too menjolok mata (revealing and indecent) compared to those in some international airlines like in the US and other places where they wear pants as uniforms," asked Che Abdullah.

To this, Loke merely said he had no comments on the matter.

"This is subjective, if you think it is revealing then don't look at the stewardesses," said Loke in his ministry's winding up address on Wednesday (Aug 1).

Earlier, Loke said that airline companies need to adhere to safety standards including emergency evacuations within the set period as drawn up by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

He said in order to receive the safety certificate, airline companies need to ensure that the uniforms worn by the flight crew will enable them to carry out safety procedures in a set period.

"As such, airline companies are free to pick the attire of their crew, as long as it fulfils the set criteria," he said.

Among the criteria include uniforms that enable the crew to carry out an emergency evacuation and the airline company's commercial decision based on their corporate image.

In line with the "Malaysian hospitality" theme practised by Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), the kebaya uniforms worn by their air stewardesses reflect local culture.

"The Ministry has no restriction if Muslim air stewardesses choose to wear attire that are Syariah compliant as long as it fulfils the criteria set by CAAM," he said.