Catholic Lawyers Condemn UMNO Leader’s Remarks, Call for Retraction, Apology and Investigation

Catholic Lawyers' Society of Kuala Lumpur Condemns UMNO Leader's Derogatory Remarks on Catholic Clergy, Consecrated Religious Life, and Scripture

The Catholic Lawyers' Society of Kuala Lumpur ("the CLS") unequivocally condemns the remarks made by Sepang Umno chief Noorazli Said during the UMNO Annual General Assembly on 12 September 2026, in which he recounted a demeaning and sexually suggestive joke involving a Catholic priest and a nun, falsely attributed to Psalm 129.

The CLS wishes to place on record that Psalm 129 (Mazmur 129) contains no such content. The Psalm speaks of deliverance and the triumph of the righteous over affliction and oppression. Mr Noorazli's fabricated attribution is not only factually false but constitutes a distortion of sacred scripture for the purpose of a crude joke, causing offence to the Catholic community and the wider Christian faith.

The CLS is further concerned that the remarks demean the dignity of the priesthood and religious life — offices held in high esteem within the Catholic faith — by portraying them in a manner that is lewd and disrespectful. Such conduct, made before a large public audience at a national political assembly, is wholly inappropriate and unbecoming of any elected representative or party leader.

The CLS wishes to remind Mr Noorazli, and indeed all public figures, that the Rukun Negara — Malaysia's national philosophy — enshrines "Belief in God" (_Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan_) as its very first principle, reflecting the nation's deep respect for religion and religious harmony among all faiths professed by its people. The Rukun Negara further calls for "Good Behaviour and Morality" (_Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan_) as a guiding principle for all Malaysians. Remarks which mock or distort the sacred texts and religious figures of any faith run contrary to these foundational principles and undermine the spirit of mutual respect and racial and religious harmony that the Rukun Negara was designed to uphold, particularly when uttered by a person of standing at a national political platform.

The CLS views this matter seriously in light of its potential legal implications. Depending on the full context and manner of dissemination, such statements may attract scrutiny under laws governing sedition and offences relating to religion, given their capacity to incite disharmony and disrespect toward a religious community — contrary also to the principle of "Rule of Law" (_Kedaulatan Undang-Undang_) espoused in the Rukun Negara.

The CLS further notes that offending remarks have been uploaded, shared, or otherwise disseminated by Mr Noorazli or any other party via Facebook or other social media and network platforms, this may separately constitute an offence under section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which criminalises the improper use of network facilities or network services to transmit content that is obscene, indecent, false, menacing, or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person.

The CLS calls on the relevant authorities, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the police, to investigate these matters accordingly.

In view of the foregoing, the CLS calls upon Mr Noorazli Said to:

1. Immediately retract the offending statement;

2. Issue a full and public apology to the Catholic community and all persons offended by his remarks; and

3. Refrain from using religious texts or figures, whether Catholic or of any other faith, as material for political rhetoric or humour.

The CLS reiterates its commitment to interfaith respect and understanding, and calls on all public figures, particularly those speaking at national platforms, to exercise greater sensitivity and responsibility when referencing matters of religious significance.

The statement is made by the CLSKL Committee of 2026/2027.