The ban on wearing of tudung in certain uniformed services had long been a contentious issue among the Muslim community, with the Govt often reiterating that any changes to the status quo would have to be done gradually
From Nov 1, Muslim staff working in the public healthcare sector including nurses will be allowed to wear a tudung, or headscarf, at work if they choose to do so, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Aug 29) during his National Day Rally.
For now, the tudung will not be allowed for students and other uniformed services, including the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Police Force.
In announcing that public healthcare nurses would soon be allowed to wear the tudung at work, Mr Lee said that before making this decision, the Government had some concerns.
Muslim nurses can wear tudung at work in most settings, but may not be allowed to do so if unsafe
MOH said that there are guidelines that will spell out a "risk-gradated approach" to the wearing of the tudung by nurses. PHOTO: ST FILE
Muslim nurses who choose to don the tudung at work from November can wear the headgear in most healthcare settings, but may not be allowed to do so where there is risk to their safety, such as when patients behave unpredictably.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday (Aug 31) that there are also guidelines that will spell out a "risk-gradated approach" to the wearing of the tudung, which have been developed in consultation with various experts to ensure safety.
For most healthcare settings, it will be acceptable for staff to don a personal tudung that is tucked into the work attire to prevent the fabric from coming into contact with patients, said MOH, in response to queries from The Straits Times.
Muslim nurses 'relieved' to get to wear tudung with uniform, private hospitals to follow suit
Medical staff outside Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore on Apr 30, 2021 (File photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)
Muslim nurses that CNA spoke to have welcomed the news that nurses in the public healthcare sector will be allowed to wear a tudung with their uniforms if they want to from November. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 29).
Private hospitals and healthcare providers that CNA spoke to said they will follow the changes implemented in the public healthcare sector.
"As the nation's largest private healthcare provider, we will take the lead in allowing our female Muslim nurses and healthcare workers in the private sector to wear the tudung as an add-on to their uniforms," said Mrs Josephine Ong, director of nursing at IHH Healthcare Singapore.
related:
Masagos Zulkifli Sunday Aug 29 2021
I welcome the announcement in PM's National Day Rally speech that Muslim nurses and other public healthcare staff will be allowed to don the tudung with their uniform, if they wish to. This move will help address the desire of many female Muslim healthcare staff. Going forward, I am confident that our Muslim healthcare staff will continue to uphold the ethos of their profession, caring impartially for all patients, regardless of what they wear.
This decision on the tudung comes after many years of engagement between the Government and various stakeholders – Muslims and non-Muslims. Indeed, the Government has to be careful in making any adjustments to keep our racial and religious harmony in good order. As PM said in his National Day Rally speech, the tudung is a national issue that requires everyone – Muslims and non-Muslims – to understand and accept the policy change. The Government must make sure that any policy change relating to the tudung would bring the different communities closer together instead of dividing us.
I am therefore grateful for the understanding and support from Singaporeans of all races and religions. This shows the progress we have made as a multi-racial and multi-religious society, where our Singaporean way enables us to discuss and embrace our differences in a rational and calm manner, precisely because we have much more in common.
Lee Hsien Loong January 25, 2014
The issue of wearing the tudung (headscarf in Malay) by Muslim women is an important matter for many Muslims in Singapore. This evening I met community and religious leaders, together with some Ministers and MPs, for a candid and fruitful dialogue. Snapped this pic of the participants at the end – all in good spirits!
I told the group that I fully appreciate their desire to allow Muslim women in uniform to wear the tudung. But a larger issue is at stake: the sort of society we aspire to be. Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-religious and harmonious society. Minorities are fully integrated into the mainstream, but have full opportunities to maintain their identities and practise their faiths. So I am also mindful how crucial it is for us to strengthen our cohesion, and maintain the relaxed confidence and trust that benefits us all, especially the minorities.
On the tudung issue, the position is not frozen. Attitudes will shift and arrangements will get updated. We have gradually evolved over the last decade. Many statutory boards now have uniforms that allow Muslim staff to wear the tudung, e.g., LTA, NEA. In 5, 10 years’ time, I am confident that we will not be in the same situation as today.
It is best that we continue evolving gradually and carefully. The racial harmony we enjoy is not perfect, but it is more precious and more fragile than we think. Let’s work hard to strengthen it, so that all races can live happily together as one united people. – LHL
Politics of the hijab
One issue that should never have been politicised is whether Muslim hospital staff should wear head covers. But it has become a political issue, thanks to the Prime Minister meeting Muslim MPs and the Workers” Party asking, unhelpfully, for “dialogue”.
Why couldn’t the health authorities simply have ruled that uniformed Muslim female staff have a choice in covering their head in keeping with the establishment’s uniform? And it really is a matter of personal choice whether the Muslim women prefer to cover or uncover their heads.
Thanks to bad handling of the issue – shame on you Muslim MPs for not taking up the matter with the health authorities, because it wasn’t a political issue to begin with – the overtones of racism have entered the scene.
'Tu dung' or Not 'tu dung'?
Singapore's position on Muslim women being allowed to wear tudungs with uniforms and for front-line government jobs will evolve “gradually and carefully”, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In a Facebook post after a dialogue he had on Saturday evening with ministers, members of parliament, community and religious leaders, PM Lee said he “fully appreciate(s) their desire” for Muslim women in uniform to be able to wear a tudung (Muslim head scarf, also known as a hijab).
“But a larger issue is at stake: the sort of society we aspire to be,” he wrote. “I am also mindful how crucial it is for us to strengthen our cohesion, and maintain the relaxed confidence and trust that benefits us all, especially the minorities.”
