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AirAsia, Firefly uniforms too revealing: KL lawmakers
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The 'eye-catching outfits' of budget airlines Firefly and AirAsia (above) do not reflect the status of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia, said Senator Abdullah Mat Yasim. (Via The Straits Times/File)
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wo Malaysian ruling party lawmakers have chided home-grown airlines AirAsia and Firefly for dressing their stewardesses in uniforms that are "too revealing".
Senator Abdullah Mat Yasim, a division chief of the ruling Umno party, said in Parliament that the fitted attire of AirAsia's and Firefly's female flight attendants can "arouse passengers", reported the New Straits Times.
The "eye-catching outfits" also do not reflect the status of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia, Datuk Abdullah added, according to the newspaper.
"The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) must really look into this," he said when debating the Mavcom (Amendment) Bill 2017 in Parliament on Monday.
His view was supported by Senator Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, who suggested that the airlines redesign the uniforms.
"My wife is worried whenever I fly alone on Malindo or AirAsia," quipped Datuk Megat, who is also general secretary of the Malaysian National Silat Federation.
Read also: Malaysian hotel industry in the spotlight over no-headscarf uniform policy
"This is a real hassle for me," he said, drawing laughter from other members of the Dewan Negara, or Upper House of Parliament.
Mr Abdullah said that the flight attendant uniforms of Malindo Air, a Malaysian-Indonesian budget carrier, were "acceptable", the NST reported. The uniforms are also body hugging, but at least the "sensitive areas" are covered, he was quoted as saying.
He was praised by the assembly's deputy president for highlighting the issue. "This is a good topic that many people can relate to as they always take flights," said Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Abd Samad .
It was the second time in two weeks that the uniforms of flight attendants have been spotlighted in the Upper House, or Senate, whose 70 members carry the senator title. Malaysia's 222 Members of Parliament occupy the Dewan Rakyat, or Lower House.
Last week, Senator Hanafi Mamat from Kelantan said that flight attendants should wear "syariah-compliant" uniforms as Malaysia is an Islamic country.
Tourists might get the wrong impression of Malaysia if flight stewardesses dress up "sexily and disrespectfully", he said.
This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
