KUCHING: The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) has demanded an immediate and unconditional apology over remarks allegedly mocking Christian clergy and the Bible during the recent UMNO General Assembly.
Its chairman The Rt Rev Datuk Danald Jute said the remarks, reportedly made by a senior UMNO leader, involved a sexually suggestive joke about priests and nuns as well as a passage falsely attributed to Psalm 129.
“Sacred Scriptures and consecrated religious figures of all religions are not material for cheap political comedy, nor should they ever be abused as props to score fleeting political popularity,” he said in a statement.
Danald, who is also the Bishop of Kuching, pointed out that religious sensitivities must be respected equally, regardless of the faith involved.
He called on UMNO and the politician concerned to issue a public retraction, apologise to the Christian community and pledge not to repeat the remarks.
With Malaysia Day approaching, he also urged politicians across party lines to stop using rhetoric that disparaged any faith or risk deepening religious divisions.
“Our nation desperately needs peace, healing, understanding and genuine unity, and not the reckless fuel of religious division which will only destroy our beloved Malaysia,” he said.
He pointed to Sarawak’s culture of peaceful coexistence as an example of how communities of different faiths could live together with mutual respect.
Danald also appealed to Christians to remain steadfast and united in prayer without responding to the incident with hatred or malice.
“Let us not respond with hatred or malice but with love and truth,” he said.
