Catholic 'joke': Sepang Umno chief hits back at DAP, defends apology

Sepang Umno chief Noorazli Said hit back at DAP leaders who questioned the sincerity of his apology over a controversial joke involving a Catholic priest and nun, asking who they were to judge what was in his heart.

“Who are we, as human beings, to determine what is sincere and what is not in another person’s heart?” he asked in a Facebook post today.

Noorazli (above) offered an apology yesterday for his remarks if they hurt any Christians' feelings.

Prior to that, however, when he told Malaysiakini he was "prepared to apologise", he had defended his remarks by saying that the "joke" had been circulating widely even before he said it.

His response prompted DAP leaders Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Lee Chin Chen and Teresa Kok to separately reject what they described as a “conditional” apology.

No intent to insult

Noorazli today argued that sincerity could not be “weighed on a political scale” or measured according to whether others approved of the words used in an apology.

“Correct me if I am wrong. Criticise my remarks if you disagree. But do not claim to know what is in my heart,” he said.

He reiterated that he had not intended to insult Christianity, Christians, priests or nuns, while acknowledging that his reference to Psalm 129 during the Umno general assembly was inaccurate.

“If what I said hurt the feelings of the Christian community, I apologise. That is my position,” he said.

He also claimed that a priest in his area had contacted him and offered words of encouragement.

Citing New Testament passages from Ephesians, Colossians and Matthew on compassion and forgiveness, Noorazli questioned whether those who preached tolerance should reject an apology on political grounds.

“If every apology must first pass a political assessment before it can be accepted, when will our society ever be able to reconcile?

“Is this the politics of values that we want to carry into the future?” he asked.

While Noorazli hit out at DAP, the latter isn't the only one to have criticised him and called for an apology.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh (above), Sabah BN chief Arthur Joseph Kurup, National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang, as well as politicians from Upko, Warisan, and Wawasan Negara have also issued rebukes and called for either an apology or police investigations.

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