Malaysian company faces backlash over alleged memo banning Muslim staff from praying

Amid backlash, a company in Klang, Malaysia retracted a memo barring its Muslim staff from performing prayers during office hours.

The memo, which did not have any signatures, went viral in Malaysia where Muslims take it as their right to pray five times a day highly.

For Muslims, they must pray five times a day and banning them from doing so can amount to an offense against their faith.

However, the company Hond Tat Industries Sdn Bhd said there was a misunderstanding over the memo dated July 30.

“All the workers were angry,” reported the Free Malaysia Today, quoting a source from the company.

The spokesperson said before the memo was posted on the company’s whiteboard the staff were grumbling.

The management of the plastic bag supplier lodged a police report denying it issued the memo.

The memo allegedly claimed that Muslim employees were not allowed to pray during office hours except during lunch time.

Klang Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Nurulhuda Mohd Salleh said the company’s management staff lodged a report today after the alleged memo, dated July 30, went viral on social media.

The memo was written in English and Malay.

It supposedly said that if people were found to be in violation of the order, “a fine of RM500.00 (Ringgit Malaysia: Five Hundred Only) would be imposed for each offence.”

“This is an act of sabotage. There is no signature on the memo and no approval by the top management. Anyone can take the letterhead and print it,” an operations manager told The News Straits Times, adding that a police report would be lodged by the company.

Malay politicians warned of “firm and appropriate action” if the memo was found to be genuine.