A purported job offer letter has sparked online criticism over several unusual employment conditions, including a clause stating that Muslim employees would have one hour’s salary deducted every Friday for prayers.
A screenshot of the letter shared on Threads also drew attention to an unusually specific 8.29am reporting time and a RM5 penalty for lateness and absenteeism.
In the original post, a Threads user urged jobseekers to read their offer letters carefully before accepting a position, saying the terms could offer an insight into how a company is managed.
One section of the shared document, titled “Muslim Worker”, stated that one hour’s salary would be deducted every Friday for prayer purposes.
The clause prompted commenters to question why employees would face a pay cut for attending Friday prayers. The company’s identity was not visible in the screenshot.
The letter listed working hours as 8.29am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, and 8.29am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.
It also stated that late attendance and absenteeism would incur a RM5 penalty for each occurrence.
However, the wording raised further questions. The letter used “find” instead of “fine” and ended a sentence with the phrase “3 times above shall be glanded”, leaving its intended meaning unclear.
Some commenters mocked the spelling errors, while others questioned why the reporting time was set at such an unusually precise minute.
One user highlighted the confusion between “find” and “fine”, saying the letter contained so many warning signs that the situation had become almost comical.
The proposed salary deduction for Friday prayers, however, drew more serious criticism.
One commenter described the condition as a major red flag, while another user who identified themselves as a non-Muslim also expressed concern over the clause.
Some said they could accept a workplace without a dedicated prayer room, but felt deducting employees’ salaries for praying went too far. Others urged those affected to report the matter to the Labour Department.
The discussion also prompted users to share examples of employers who accommodate employees’ religious obligations.
One commenter said their company had provided a surau and would wait when an employee they needed was praying. Muslim male employees were also reportedly given a two-hour break on Fridays.
The commenter added that staff did not always use the full break, saying the employer’s flexibility encouraged employees to be considerate in return.
Another user said their workplace allowed a three-hour break for Friday prayers without deducting salary.
However, the screenshots showed only part of the purported offer letter and did not establish whether the stated deductions or penalties had actually been imposed on employees.
