PUTRAJAYA: Authorities must investigate the controversial joke made at the recent Umno general assembly that offended Christians, says Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
The National Unity Minister stated that the probe should determine whether Sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code, alongside provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Act, were breached.
He stressed that regardless of intent, jokes targeting religious institutions, figures, sacred texts or faith beliefs must never be taken lightly.
“Religion is not a laughing matter,” Aaron said in a statement yesterday.
“Sacred matters respected by a community should not be ridiculed, turned into sexual innuendo or used solely to elicit applause,” he said.
Expressing deep indignation, Association of Churches in Sarawak chairman Datuk Danald Jute strongly condemned Datuk Noorazli Said’s remarks.
“Using a crude, sexually suggestive joke targeting Christian priests and nuns, paired with a fabricated passage falsely attributed to Psalm 129 of the Holy Bible, is deeply insulting to the entire Christian community,” said the Anglican Bishop of Kuching.
Sepang Umno division chief Noorazli drew widespread backlash over the offensive joke.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh was among those demanding an immediate apology.
Noorazli has since apologised, claiming the remarks were merely an analogy to illustrate focus, perseverance and wisdom, with no intention to insult any faith or individual.
Meanwhile, MCA Ethnic Relations and Religious Affairs Bureau chairman Chan Wun Hoong dismissed the gesture, stating that a conditional apology offered only after public outrage lacks sincerity.
Chan highlighted Noorazli’s phrasing: “‘If my remarks have caused any misunderstanding or offended anyone, particularly the Christians, I humbly offer my apologies.’
“A genuine apology must be sincere and unconditional, rather than framed with an ‘if’ after public backlash,” Chan said, adding that disapproval across party lines proved the outrage transcended partisan politics.
“Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, know when a line has been crossed. Mocking another faith is simply unacceptable.”
