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Don’t politicise hijab issue: Workers' Party

SINGAPORE — The hijab issue should not be politicised, the Workers’ Party (WP) said today (Nov 6) as it called for “open-minded” discussions where chiefs of uniformed professions should also provide their views on whether it is feasible for their Muslim employees to wear head scarves while on duty.

SINGAPORE — The hijab issue should not be politicised, the Workers’ Party (WP) said today (Nov 6) as it called for “open-minded” discussions where chiefs of uniformed professions should also provide their views on whether it is feasible for their Muslim employees to wear head scarves while on duty.

Public discourse on the matter, which had sparked a spirited debate more than a decade ago, was revived recently after a polytechnic lecturer had asked during a September forum on race why nurses were barred from wearing the hijab. Since the forum, several Government leaders and Members of Parliament have weighed in on the issue and met with Muslim leaders.

Issuing a statement today, Member of Parliament (Aljunied GRC) Muhammad Faisal Abdul Manap, who is a WP council member, said that his party “believes that a workable consensus is best achieved through public dialogue”. The WP noted that the “overwhelmingly rational response” of the Muslim community on the matter “augurs well for positive discussions”, he said.

He said: “The discussions should be carried on with an open mind, and include the input of the heads of uniformed professions on the feasibility of accommodating the wearing of the hijab in their organisations, subject to considerations such as operational exigencies.”

He added that “as a principle, WP recognises the genuine desire and aspirations of Muslim Singaporeans who seek a change in government policy to allow the wearing of the hijab in the public sector’s uniformed professions”.

“WP observes that over the years, Singaporeans have grown accustomed to working Muslim women who choose to don the hijab in government offices, as nurses in some private hospitals, in schools as teachers and even as participants at National Day parades,” he said.

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