Religious respect needed, Kuching archbishop urges amid clergy joke controversy

Religious leaders and communities must work together to promote understanding and reject divisive language, the Catholic Archbishop of Kuching has urged, amid growing tensions over a controversial joke involving clergy members. Archbishop Simon Poh said such remarks breach the respect that should be accorded to all faiths and denominations in a multi-religious nation. The archbishop's intervention follows comments made by Sepang Umno division chief Noorazli Said, which Poh described as "hurtful" to the Catholic community. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the tenor of public discourse in Malaysia, where religious sensitivities remain acute. Poh appealed to political and community leaders to demonstrate greater responsibility when speaking publicly, noting that thoughtless remarks can inflame tensions and undermine national cohesion. He stressed that Malaysia's strength lay in its ability to respect religious plurality and called on all Malaysians to uphold this principle in their words and actions.