PRS Youth chief condemns UMNO man’s ‘joke’ involving Catholic clergy, calls for apology

Christopher Gira Sambang (file pic)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 14: Sepang UMNO chief Noorazli Said has been urged to issue a public apology over a lewd ‘joke’ involving Catholic clergy, with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth Chief Christopher Gira Sambang expressing disappointment over the remarks.

“As a Catholic, I am deeply disappointed by and strongly disagree with the remarks made by an UMNO leader, in which he made inappropriate references to a Catholic priest, a nun, and the Holy Scripture.

“Politics must never be built upon insults, fear or hatred towards people of other races and religions. I therefore call upon the leader concerned to retract his remarks and issue a full public apology to the Catholic community and everyone offended by them,” he said in a statement.

Gira, who is also the assemblyman for Tamin, said that as Malaysia is a multiracial and multireligious nation, religious leaders, sacred texts, and the teachings of any religion must never be used as material for insulting, indecent or sexually suggestive jokes, especially on a national political platform.

He also said that Peninsular Malaysia’s politicians should learn from Sarawak and Sabah how people of different religions, races and cultures can live together with mutual respect.

He cited the establishment of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), which assists in the construction, repair, and upgrading of non-Muslim houses of worship, as well as for the development of mission schools throughout Sarawak.

“In Sarawak, we visit one another during festive celebrations, respect each other’s places of worship and preserve our bonds of friendship and brotherhood regardless of our backgrounds.

“I urge all Malaysians to embrace the Sarawakian spirit of mutual respect and use it as a model for preserving harmony throughout our nation.

“If statements that insult religions or inflame racial and religious sentiments are allowed to continue, we risk fostering a culture of hatred that could divide our people and tarnish Malaysia’s reputation in the eyes of the world,” he said.

Noorazli reportedly made the remarks during a recent UMNO general assembly. — DayakDaily