Action must be taken on restaurant owner for sacking employee for wearing a cross, says MP

November 22, 2023

Action must be taken on restaurant owner for sacking employee for wearing a cross, says MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Action must be taken against the restaurant owner for terminating an employee for wearing a cross, says DAP MP Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran.

The former Human Resources Minister asked the ministry to state the action that could be taken on the matter.

“Has the government taken any action on this? Because as far as I remember, there is a specific provision in the Employment Act for (the government) to take action or not,” he said.

He said this while debating the 2024 Supply Bill for the Human Resources Ministry at the committee stage on Tuesday (Nov 24).

Kulasegaran warned that if no action was taken, it could lead to other larger religious and racial issues.

“If no immediate action is taken, what if an employee puts sacred white ash on their foreheads.
“That could be seen as a potential issue for employers, can that be terminated for it? What is the government’s stance on this,” he asked.

On Nov 20, a Chinese Muslim restaurant in Kuala Lumpur came under fire from social media users for terminating an employee after a video went viral depicting a staff member with a songkok was seen wearing a necklace with a cross.

Following this, the restaurant had received brickbats online for the sacking, which many claimed was discriminatory.

Action must be taken on restaurant owner for sacking employee for wearing a cross, says MP