KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 ― The Damai Service Hospital is planning to sue a nurse who publicly complained she was prevented from working after refusing to wear a short-sleeve uniform, for allegedly defaming the hospital.
The hospital also plans to sue Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) who held the press conference where the nurse, Naziah Sauni Samat, made her claim.
“Since [Friday], the hospital received phone calls non-stop, asking about the issue until there are those who threatened boycott and uttered untoward remarks,” the hospital’s finance and administration manager Regina Sundram told Malay daily Sinar Harian.
“Furthermore, the hospital’s Facebook page was also flooded with allegations and unpleasant words, forcing us to filter every user’s comments before they can be published.”
Regina said some in the public have accused the hospital of many things without referring to their explanation and side of the story, despite it hiring 41 Muslims out of their 120 staff members.
“We will discuss and get legal advice on Monday, before taking further action,” Regina said.
“We are also collecting all documents, including newspaper reports and social media users’ comments that harm and tarnish the image of the hospital and our staff.”
On Friday, PPIM had urged the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Health Ministry to issue guidelines on uniform for Muslim nurses at government and private hospitals.
PPIM chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said it had received 20 complaints this year on discrimination against Muslim nurses, including Naziah’s.
Yesterday, Regina told news portal Malaysiakini that Naziah did not come to work for two days consecutively without providing any reason for her absence, leading to her termination.
However, Naziah told ProjekMMO that it was not a disciplinary problem that led to her termination, insisting that she was absent from work simply because she was forced out.
Naziah, who has a Diploma in Nursing, worked at a clinic before joining the hospital on September 1 this year, upon her return from Japan where she worked as a personal nurse for more than a year.
