I wish to express my strong support for and solidarity with the statement issued by the Catholic Lawyers' Society of Kuala Lumpur (CLSKL) concerning the remarks made by Sepang UMNO chief Noorazli Said during the UMNO Annual General Assembly on 12 September 2026.
I find the remarks deeply inappropriate, offensive and regrettable for several reasons. First, the remarks were made at a political party's national convention.
A political convention is a public and important platform where leaders and delegates should discuss matters concerning the nation, the economy, the welfare of the people and the future of Malaysia.
A sexually suggestive joke involving a priest and a nun is wholly out of place in such a forum. Political leaders, particularly those speaking before a national audience, have a responsibility to uphold standards of decency, dignity and public morality.
Second, the remarks publicly demean persons and institutions belonging to a religion other than one's own. Malaysia is a multi-religious nation.
The freedom to practise one's faith carries with it the corresponding responsibility to respect the faith, sacred institutions and religious leaders of others.
One does not have to belong to the Catholic faith to respect a Catholic priest, a nun, or the religious vocation which they have chosen.
Likewise, Christians should respect the religious beliefs and sacred persons of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and followers of other faiths.
Third, the remarks are offensive to Christians, and particularly to Catholics. Priests and consecrated religious persons are not legitimate objects of sexual ridicule.
They represent a sacred vocation within the Catholic Church and deserve the same basic dignity and respect that we would expect others to extend to our own religious leaders and institutions.
As a Christian, I therefore find it necessary to speak out. Silence in the face of the public humiliation or degradation of another person's faith can itself contribute to the erosion of mutual respect among Malaysians.
Fourth, the attribution of the alleged joke to Psalm 129 is factually wrong. There is simply nothing in Psalm 129 that says what was attributed to it.
Psalm 129 is a biblical psalm concerning the affliction of God's people and God's deliverance from oppression.
It contains no such story or reference involving a priest and a nun.
What is particularly troubling is that no verse from Psalm 129 was actually identified or quoted to substantiate the claim.
To invoke the name of a biblical Psalm without reference to any actual verse, and then attribute to Scripture words and ideas which are not there, is not merely inaccurate.
It risks making a mockery of the Bible and of the sacred Scriptures held dear by Christians throughout the world.
This is why I consider the matter more serious than merely an unfortunate joke.
Religious scriptures should never be used as props for crude political humour.
Whether it is the Bible, the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, the teachings of Buddhism, or the sacred texts of any other faith, our religious texts should be treated with respect.
Political rhetoric must never cross the line into ridiculing or deliberately misrepresenting what another faith holds sacred.
I am also concerned about the wider implications of such remarks for Malaysia's fragile but precious tradition of religious and racial harmony. In two days, the country will be celebrating Malaysia Day, and it is a sad and sobering fact that after 63 years, we are still grappling with religious and racial bigotry, especially within the political domain.
The first principle of the Rukun Negara is "Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan" (Belief in God), while another principle calls for "Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan" (Good Behaviour and Morality).
These principles are not merely words to be recited at official functions. They should guide our conduct, particularly that of those entrusted with leadership.
Malaysia does not need political leaders who gain attention by ridiculing the religion of others. We need leaders who build bridges, protect mutual respect and bring Malaysians together despite our differences.
I therefore strongly support the call by the Catholic Lawyers' Society of Kuala Lumpur for the offending remarks to be withdrawn and for a full and public apology to be made.
At the same time, I believe that this matter should not become an excuse for further religious confrontation.
The appropriate response is one of firmness, truth and respect.
We should condemn the conduct and the remarks, while continuing to uphold the dignity of every person, regardless of political party or religious affiliation.
As Malaysians, we must be able to disagree politically without insulting one another's faith.
Freedom of speech is not a licence to ridicule another person's religion. Political humour is not a licence to demean sacred persons or institutions.
And public office carries with it a responsibility to exercise restraint, wisdom and respect. I therefore join the Catholic Lawyers' Society of Kuala Lumpur in calling upon Mr Noorazli Said to:
1.Immediately retract the offending remarks;
2.Issue a full and public apology to the Catholic community and to all Christians who have been offended;
3.Acknowledge that Psalm 129 contains no such passage as attributed to it; and
4.Exercise greater responsibility and sensitivity when referring to the sacred beliefs, scriptures and religious leaders of other faiths.
I make this statement not as an attack upon any political party or individual, but as a matter of principle, religious respect and the preservation of harmony in our country.
If we expect others to respect our faith, we must also respect theirs. Malaysia belongs to all of us. Let us therefore speak and act in ways that strengthen, rather than weaken, the bonds of mutual respect, understanding and peace among our people.–
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