PBK president reminds politicians, especially from Malaya, not to make religion as target of political joke

KUCHING, Sept 15 2026: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) Voon Lee Shan today reminded politicians, especially those from Malaya, not to make religion as a target of political jokes and provocation.

Caption: PBK presidet Voon Lee Shan says that what Noorazli Said has uttered during an Umno general assembly recently reflects a disturbing level of insensitivity and recklessness in Malaysian politics. 

He said Umno divisional leader Noorazli Said's disrespectful joke is an affront to all Christians, adding "enough is enough".

"Religious faith is not a subject for vulgar jokes or political theatrics, pointing out that Holy Bible is sacred to millions of Christians, including the vast Christian population of Sarawak. 

"A political leader, particularly one holding public office or exercising political influence, should understand that words and actions involving religion carry serious consequences," Voon said in a statement.

He added what Noorazli has uttered during an Umno general assembly recently reflects a disturbing level of insensitivity and recklessness in Malaysian politics. 

"Differences in religion must never become an excuse for ridicule, provocation or humiliation. Political leaders have a responsibility to protect mutual respect and social harmony, not undermine them," he said.

Voon told Umno politicians that Sarawak has long demonstrated that people of different races and religions can live together, share meals, celebrate one another's festivals and respect one another's faith. *Our religious diversity is not a weakness; it is one of Sarawak's greatest strengths.

"We Sarawakians will not accept the importation of divisive racial and religious politics that threatens this harmony.

"I, therefore, demand that the Umno leadership formally and publicly apologise to Christians throughout Malaysia, and in particular to the Christian community in Sarawak, for this disgraceful conduct. 

"The matter should not be dismissed as a mere misunderstanding. When a sacred religious text is used as the subject of a vulgar joke, the appropriate response is accountability and a sincere apology—not excuses," Voon said, adding that he strongly condemns the conduct of the Umno leader who made a vulgar and deeply disrespectful joke involving the Holy Bible during a solemn assembly.

"Let me make this absolutely clear that the utterance of the Umno leader was not merely an insult to the Catholic Bible. The Bible is the Holy Book of Christians of all denominations.

"Any act or joke that desecrates, mocks or treats the Holy Bible with contempt is therefore deeply offensive to Christians as a whole," Voon fumed.