Following meeting with Director of Health Sciences, on 6 August 2009, when attachment to Nursing Home was denied.

1. 8 August, 2009
Dr. Phang Chiew Hun,
Director of Health Sciences,
Ngee Ann Polytechnic,
535 Clementi Road,
Singapore 599489.
RE: THE MEETING WITH YOUR STAFF & REGISTERING A COMPLAINT
Dear Dr. / Madam,
1. I refer you to my attendance in your office and the meeting with your staff on 6
August 2009. In attendance were Madam Sandra and Miss Lam.
2. This is to put on record that on the morning of 6 August 2009, my daughter
presented herself for the practical test in her nursing uniform and was told by your
staff to remove her headscarf. Unlike previously when the request was made politely
by your staff then, and with reasoning that the test includes the necessity for her
examiner to assess how she groomed her hair and this too was done behind the
screen, regrettably this time she was requested to take it off, while even in the
waiting area, in public. As I have already informed you in my first correspondence
that my daughter’s headscarf is related to modesty, not mere ornaments or
accessories. Thus the action of your staff would be like them asking my daughter “to
strip in public” and that too without any sensible reason (rationale) for requiring her
to do so except that your staff referred her to your letter dated 15 July 2009, as
though you sanction even their overzealous approaches. I would not like to believe
this, but rather attribute this to their folly and not yours. Thus my request for you to
properly advise your non-Muslim staff in this matter is not extraneous.
3. My daughter’s protest and request for the actual reason or for some written memo
from them were simply rebuffed with bureaucratic condescension. Your staff even
refused to accept my reply letter addressed for you. Only after some exchanges that
your staff relented to meet me and my wife.
4. From what transpired which herewith I would like to reiterate for the record that:
[a] We do acknowledge your Department’s prerogative to adopt whatever policy,
which was never our intention to deny;
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2. [b] Our contention was in relaying to your office our grievance that your policy has
discriminated my daughter’s rights and educational prospect;
[c] Although we had to accept your Department’s decision (prerogative) to disallow
my daughter from taking the test, albeit under protest, this decision is still regarded
by us as being discriminatory, rigid and excessive – which, we must reiterate, thus far
were not categorically denied nor refuted. Such acceptance must not be regarded as
our condoning it.
[d] Your staff confirmed that my daughter came for the test, and was in the Nursing
uniform, but the objection of your staff was only regarding her refusal to take-off her
headscarf.
[e] For the record we must state that it was not that my daughter did not take the
test, but that she was denied the opportunity to take it by your policy and decision.
[f] We have handed to your staff our letter, as response to your letter dated 13 July
2009.
5. We have always tried to use civility and reasoning in seeking amicable solution
hoping for understanding and mutual respect. It is most regrettable that the
impression your staff had demonstrated to us was as though this issue has already
been closed with your letter, and no more appeal would be respected nor tolerated.
Such was how we felt when concluding the meeting - in that our genuine grievance
was not going to be understood at all, nor was there any sympathy shown.
6. We hope that you look into the matter.
Thank you
Sincerely yours,
‫ذوامكفل حاج امسعيل‬
Zhulkeflee Bin Haji Ismail
Apt. Block 716,
#04-4504
Bedok Reservoir Road,
Singapore
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3. 470716.
cc. Principal,
Director/Academic Affairs,
Ms Siti Muslehat,
Madam Sandra,
Miss Lam,
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
535 Clementi Road,
Singapore 599489.
Chief Nursing Officer,
Ministry of Health
College of Medicine Building
16 College Road, Singapore 169854
Deputy Director/Higher Education Division,
Ministry of Education, Singapore
1 North Buona Vista Drive
Singapore 138675
Secretary,
PERGAS
Singapore Islamic Scholars and
Religious Teachers Association,
Wisma Indah,
448, #03-01 Changi Road,
Singapore 419975
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