Kuching: DAPSY Sarawak views seriously the remarks made by UMNO Sepang Division Chief Datuk Noorazli Said during the 2026 UMNO General Assembly, where a Catholic priest and a nun were used as subjects of a sexually suggestive joke and subsequently linked to Psalm 129.
Regardless of whether the remarks were intended as political humour, religion should never be trivialised or used in a manner that could offend or demean the faith of others.
This is particularly important in Sarawak, where a significant portion of our population is Christian and Christianity is an integral part of Sarawakians’ lives and communities. Any remarks that ridicule religious figures, scripture, or Christian beliefs should not be taken lightly.
DAPSY Sarawak stresses that the religious sensitivities of Sarawakians must be respected, regardless of religion, race, or political affiliation. There must not be double standards when it comes to respecting different faiths.
We cannot condemn the mocking or insulting of one religion while remaining silent when the faith of another community is ridiculed. Respect for religion cannot and should never be selective or dependent on political affiliation. When political leaders normalise making fun of another community’s beliefs for political entertainment or applause, we are taking the risk of disrupting the racial and religious harmony that Malaysians have worked so hard to build.
In view of this, DAPSY Sarawak has lodged a police report over the remarks and urges the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to conduct a professional, transparent, and impartial investigation to determine whether the remarks contain any elements that may constitute an offence or threaten public harmony.
Freedom of speech and political expression must come with responsibility. Political leaders, in particular, must exercise greater care when referring to religion, as their words can significantly affect social harmony. No political agenda should ever be an excuse to ridicule another person’s faith.
We may disagree politically and debate policies, but religion must never be used as a tool for political entertainment. If political leaders can publicly ridicule another person’s religion for the sake of laughter or political mileage, what message does that send to the next generation and to all Malaysians?
DAPSY Sarawak, therefore, calls on all political leaders to respect the faith and beliefs of the people and, in this particular case, the religious sensitivities of Sarawak’s Christian community and all other Christian communities across the nation.
Respect religion. Respect its believers. Do not turn religion into a joke for applause and laughter.
DAPSY Sarawak
15 September 2026
