Malaysian Muslim Consumers' Association (PPIM) has mocked private hospitals' insistence that their nurses wear short sleeves, proposing that they take it further by mandating short skirts and bikinis.

PPIM chief Nadzim Johan said this in reference to Damai Service Hospital finance and administration manager Regina Sundram who said the rule was due to hygiene reasons.

"Based on Regina Sundram's statement, then nurses would do better to wear sleeveless shirts and short skirts or bikinis.

"That will surely make patients excited," he said in a statement tonight.

Nadzim then appended in his statement photographs of women in sleeveless shirts and nurses in short skirts.

He also rubbished that nurses wearing long sleeves will increase the risk of infection, calling it "nonsense".

"It is nonsensical and there is no scientific evidence to say that wearing short sleeves can reduce the risk of infection," he said.

Nadzim said the most important thing was for nurses to abide by the World Health Organisation's concept of "five moments for hand hygiene".

He also ticked off Malaysian Medical Association president Ashok Zachariah Philip for saying nurses should not work in private hospitals if they cannot accept the dress code.

Nadzim said Ashok was not helping the situation and needed to learn to respect religious sensitivities.

"His statement that the interest of patients and science must take precedent over religion is improper and a provocation on Islam as the religion of the federation," he said.

Debate over dress code for nurses in private hospital has raged over the past week after nurse Naziah Sauni Samat claimed she was dismissed by Damai Services Hospital for insisting on wearing long sleeves.

However, the hospital has insisted that Naziah was dismissed for disciplinary reasons.