KUALA LUMPUR — Sepang Umno division chief Datuk Noorazli Said is willing to apologise for a joke involving Catholic clergy and a fake Bible verse if it is found to have caused offence.
After backlash, including censure from two other Umno leaders, Noorazli said he understood that a story that had religious references “can be interpreted differently and cause misunderstandings, particularly in Malaysia’s multireligious society”.
“If my remarks have caused any misunderstanding or offended any party—particularly Christians—I am humbly prepared to apologise,” he said on Facebook.
He said the controversy had also served as a lesson for him to be more careful when choosing analogies and expressing his views in future.
However, he said he had shared that story about a priest and a nun during his debate at the Umno annual general assembly on Saturday as an analogy to highlight the importance of focus, perseverance and wisdom in achieving one’s goals.
Noorazli said he never intended to insult, belittle or ridicule any individual, belief or religion.
“I respect every religion and belief and will always uphold harmony, mutual respect and understanding, which are important foundations for life in our multiracial and multireligious country.
“I hope this explanation will help ease the misunderstanding that has arisen, and that we can continue to safeguard harmony and the spirit of mutual respect among one another,” he said.
Noorazli’s qualified apology follows calls by Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh Umno Sabah treasurer Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak for him to publicly apologise.
Akmal said Noorazli should not do or say to others what he would find offensive himself.
“Imagine if the joke about the priest had instead involved an imam and Muslims. We would certainly be angry. If we are offended when others treat us that way, we should not do the same to others,” Akmal said.
Akmal also said Noorazli’s remarks did not represent Umno’s position, but were instead his personal views.
Salleh Said said Noorazli’s sexually themed joke was unacceptable regardless of the intention behind it.
Earlier, Tuaran MP and Tamparuli assemblyman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau demanded Noorazli apologise to all Catholics as well as the larger Christian community, condemning his joke as “highly inappropriate and offensive”.
He said Noorazli should acknowledge his lapse in judgement, withdraw what he described as a false reference to Psalm 129 in the Bible, and issue an unconditional public apology.
Noorazli’s joke involved a priest driving a manual Proton Saga who was giving a nun a ride home. The priest’s hand would brush against the nun’s thigh whenever he chased gears. The nun chides the priest by reminding him of Psalm 129 in the Bible. Noorazli said the priest, upon checking the Psalm in his bible later, finds the verse “Go further up and you will find success”.
Wilfred pointed out that no such verse exists in Psalm 129, and so did the Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur (CLS), which is planning to lodge a police report over Noorazli’s remarks which they say have the potential to cause disharmony and disrespect towards a religious community.- September 14, 2026