Sarawak churches call for unconditional apology from Umno, Sepang division chief Noorazli over priest joke

KUCHING: The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) has joined the chorus calling on Umno and its Sepang division chief, Datuk Noorazli Said, to issue an “immediate, explicit and unconditional public retraction and apology” to the Christian community over Noorazli's crude remarks made during the party's recent general assembly.

In a statement on Tuesday (Sept 15), ACS said the apology should also be directed to “all who care for peace” for the offence caused and for Noorazli to pledge not to repeat the same mistake.

ACS chairman Datuk Danald Jute expressed the association's deep disappointment and indignation, saying it condemned Noorazli's disgraceful remarks.

"The use of a crude, sexually suggestive joke targeting Christian priests and nuns, paired with the fabrication and mockery of a passage falsely attributed to Psalm 129 of the Holy Bible, is extremely insulting to the entire Christian community," he said.