KUALA LUMPUR – Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa today spoke up for nurses’ uniforms and said those who took issue with them for being tight-fitting should focus on weightier matters.
Providing excellent service to the public is a greater priority for the ministry, The Star reported her saying.
“There are ethics nurses adhere to when it comes to their uniforms and it is clear to me that there is no problem,” she was quoted as saying after an event at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru today.
“We have just tabled the health white paper and should be focusing on what is important, which is providing the best health services to the people.
“For now, I do not see the uniform as an issue.”
Zaliha was responding to Kuantan MP Wan Razali Wan Nor’s claims that nurses’ outfits were of “Western custom”.
During the Dewan Rakyat’s debate on the health white paper on Thursday, Wan Razali said nurses’ uniforms in government hospitals were “tight” and “showed off their body shape”.
Health advocacy think tank Galen Centre later criticised the PAS lawmaker for poorly allocating his debate time to raise such issues.
It also drew a response from Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai, president of The Malaysian Medical Association, who defended the uniforms as practical as they do not restrict nurses’ movement when carrying out their duties.
Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming also urged Wan Razali to apologise to the nursing fraternity for his comments. – The Vibes, June 18, 2023
