Sepang UMNO division chief Noorazli Said sparked a fresh uproar in the country recently after allegedly denying that he intended to insult any religion with a joke involving a Catholic priest and a nun. He further stated that he was prepared to apologize if it had caused any misunderstanding.
However, several DAP lawmakers have rejected Noorazli’s conditional apology for the “dirty joke” which was delivered during his party’s recent annual general assembly, while also criticising him for trivialising sexual harassment.
Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau has also demanded that the UMNO leader apologize to all Christians for the gaffe. According to him, joke or not, Noorazli not only told a sexualized story about a priest and a nun but also cited a fabricated Bible verse.
Meanwhile, Sabah UMNO veteran Salleh Said Keruak commented in a Facebook post that he fully agreed with Tangau’s stand. He added that it was not about politics, but about respect, responsibility, and knowing where to draw the line.
But surely UMNO leaders should know better as mixing something purportedly from the Bible with a vulgar joke is guaranteed to create an explosive cocktail. Just like if a DAP leader makes a lewd joke while misquoting a verse from the Holy Quran!
Won't all hell break loose?
So, was it a case of being tone-deaf?
In fact, the so-called joke was not only insulting to religion, but also blatantly sexist—which would prompt critics to ask mockingly: Is this the standard of a party that aspires to govern a multiracial country?
It could be that the nationalist party's hugely impressive recent electoral victories in Johor and Negeri Sembilan may have led certain division leaders to imagine themselves as “invincible” once more.
It looks like, for UMNO, old habits die hard, and its alleged trademark “arrogance” was rearing its ugly head again?
Truth be told, the backlash against Noorazli came not only from Christians but from several UMNO leaders as well who turned their guns on their own compatriot.
Surprise, surprise—even UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh, who is hardly an angel in the eyes of many, has demanded a public apology from the division leader in what seemed like a desperate attempt at damage control.
Now, isn't that alone sufficient proof that the red line has been crossed?
Moreover, UMNO’s leadership also know that those in Sarawak and Sabah do not tolerate mocking other faiths, and that the incident will likely alienate the two states' large Christian population.
So will this blunder come back to haunt the party post-GE16 should it need East Malaysian goodwill to form a federal government?
Add to that, Noorazli’s misstep may have also left UMNO’s loyal partners, MCA and MIC, in a bind. How will they explain the farce to the angry non-Malay electorate?
Meanwhile, national Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang has urged authorities to investigate the controversial incident under Sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code for uttering words with the intent to wound religious feelings and causing religious disunity.
This would have prompted some to recall the uproar over the “Allah socks” saga involving KK Mart, where the owners were hauled to court for the same offense, with their company eventually being fined RM60,000. They also had to endure a boycott campaign led by none other than UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh himself, though the mistake was unintentional.
Yet, the thing is, despite publicly asking for forgiveness, were KK Mart and its owners forgiven by those who hounded them relentlessly?
Then, what about some social media influencers and certain celebrity preachers who seem to have no qualms in openly questioning or belittling other faiths?
Recently, a controversial Muslim-convert preacher also came under fire for berating “Hungry Ghost Festival” prayer flags and banners that were in Chinese characters.
The glaring question here is: why are certain figures still allowed to freely offend the religious sensibilities of others under the guise of defending their own faith, the national language, or even the country's laws?
Are they emboldened by the perceived lackadaisical enforcement by the authorities and buoyed by the support from their large social media fan base?
Talk is cheap—action speaks louder than words!
Ultimately, instead of merely “urging” authorities to act, shouldn't the Home Minister and the Unity Minister act in tandem by exercising their Cabinet clout to ensure swift and decisive action whenever such incidents occur? Seriously, how else do we stop these irresponsible acts from tearing the nation apart?
Notes to Ponder: According to a recent report, the UMNO Sepang division leader has since updated his Facebook post to clarify that he has apologized. But while the apology should be accepted with grace, should that be the end of the story?
Main information source: Malaysiakini, Scoop, FMT, The Vibes and Focus Malaysia.
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