PETALING JAYA: Sepang Umno chief Datuk Noorazli Said has apologised over a joke he made regarding priests during the recent Umno general assembly, The Star reported.
In a statement, he acknowledged that his remarks could have been interpreted differently and caused misunderstanding, particularly within Malaysia's multi-religious society.
Noorazli clarified that the story was shared solely as an analogy to highlight focus, perseverance, and wisdom in achieving goals, with no intention to insult, belittle, or mock any belief or religion.
He humbly offered his apologies to anyone offended by the remarks, particularly the Christian community, and pledged to exercise greater caution when selecting analogies in the future.
He added that he respects all faiths and remains committed to upholding the harmony and mutual respect essential to the nation's plural society.
His apology followed calls from Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who urged Noorazli to apologise immediately and stressed that religious matters must never be turned into jokes.
Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Arthur Kurup had also demanded an unconditional apology without excuses, describing the speech as offensive and hurtful, particularly to Malaysian Christians.
