Popular toy store Hamleys apologised to the public on Sunday following allegations it did not allow its staff members to don headscarves.

In an official statement on its Facebook page, Hamleys said the company had never practiced such a policy.

The statement follows a complaint posted by actor Datuk Rosyam Nor on Twitter last Thursday who had expressed his disappointment after his daughter had allegedly been asked to take off her headscarf if she wanted to work at the toy store, even temporarily.



The matter caught the attention of Puteri UMNO. Its chief, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in a statement today said the discriminatory and sexist act towards women should not happen in 21st century Malaysia which is striving to achieve developed nation status.

According to the toy store, located at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre, one of its employees had acted outside her jurisdiction and against company policy when she ordered Rosyam Nor's daughter to take off her headscarf.

Disciplinary action has been taken against the employee, said Hamleys.



The public, especially Muslims, also expressed their dissatisfaction over the matter and shared similar experiences elsewhere.