KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian television anchor has lost her job after she cut off her hair to support cancer awareness. The popular Malaysian NTV7 said that Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi would not be allowed to work on air until her hair grows back to an “acceptable” length. The firing has caused outrage among women in the country, who demanded the channel reverse its decision based on why Radzi cut her hair off. “This is horrible and wrong because what she did was empowering and for a cause,” said university student Mariam Razak, who added to Bikyamasr.com that “I would gladly cut my hair off to show my support.” Also, the television personality has also reported to have received calls saying she defied a fatwa in the country that prohibits women from shaving their head. Radzi, who works on a freelance basis for NTV7, cropped her hair on Friday in a show of solidarity with The National Cancer Council cancer awareness campaign. She was told that once her hair had grown, she could resume her part-time position as newscaster. “We can't put a bald person on air, especially for news and the anchor is a woman. We have to upkeep a certain look and feel. “Ras suggested a wig, which we were against because it would look strange for her to appear on air in a wig and then in public with a shaved head,” the source told IBNLive.com. For Radzi, the move to cut her hair for cancer is close to the heart. “I am answerable to God. Islam is a way of life, and we are told to always help people. I am a Muslim, I pray five times a day and I love my religion,” she said. “My late stepfather died of cancer, my uncle is a cancer survivor. I have many friends going through it, and it breaks my heart,” she told reporters.
