Umno Youth tells MAS to cut booze, sexy uniforms in airline restructure

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Umno Youth has urged Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to stop serving alcohol on flights and to mandate the use of headscarves for Muslim flight attendants as part of the struggling carrier’s restructuring process.

Umno Youth exco Dazma Shah Daud was reported by Malay daily Sinar Harian today as saying that MAS’s new management should not be afraid of making such changes as it is no longer deemed taboo to wear a headscarf.

“We suggest that the MAS management allow or require their Muslim air stewardesses to wear a headscarf and uniforms that cover the ‘aurat’,” Dazma was quoted as saying.

He noted that airlines from Islamic countries like Brunei, Saudi Arabia and Iran require the use of headscarves for their female flight attendants, which he said was proof that the dress code does not harm the carriers’ reputation.

“We should not be afraid of business being affected because we must be confident with God’s will if we follow it,” said Dazma.

Umno Youth religious bureau chairman Azmir Yuzaimi Mohd Yunos was reported by Sinar Harian as saying that MAS and other airlines operating in multi-cultural Malaysia should stop serving alcohol on flights as it was against Islam.

He also reportedly advised MAS to recite prayers before each flight.

“Saudi Airlines, for example, requires their pilots to say a prayer (for Muslims) before flying. Why can’t we leave it to God in each flight? As a Muslim, we need to ask protection from Him,” Azmir Yuzaimi was quoted as saying.

MAS Employees Union (Maseu) executive secretary Mohd Jabbarullah Abd Kadir reportedly supported Umno Youth’s proposal for the national carrier to stop serving alcohol and to make the flight attendants’ uniform more modest.

“We’ve already brought this up to MAS’s top management since before. It’s not new, but if there are some who propose this, Maseu will support it,” Jabbarullah was quoted as saying.

International financial site Bloomberg reported yesterday that loss-making MAS was considering replacing the airline’s chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, and is planning a series of layoffs as well as reviewing aircraft orders, as part of the restructuring measures following the airline’s two aviation disasters earlier this year.