KOTA KINABALU: September 15, 2026 – Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup has urged all political leaders to be more responsible in their speeches, especially when touching on matters involving religion, race and the royal institution.
In a statement yesterday, he said his call followed a review of a speech by Sepang UMNO division chief Datuk Noorazli Said at the 2026 UMNO General Assembly, specifically remarks touching on Christianity, priests, nuns and the Bible.
Arthur said the speech was highly inappropriate, excessive and did not reflect the maturity expected of a political leader.
He said political differences should not be an excuse to make fun of religion or the beliefs of other followers just to draw laughter or applause from the public.
He said Malaysia was built on the foundation of a multiracial and multireligious society, and it would be deeply disappointing if religion was still used as material for political jokes after more than six decades of nation-building as a plural society.
Arthur also reminded that freedom of speech comes with responsibility, while 3R issue, race, religion and the royal institution, are not matters that can be touched on at will.
He said the Constitution and national laws must be respected to preserve public order, harmony and relations among communities.
He therefore urged Noorazli to publicly apologise without excuses or evasion, especially to Malaysian Christians who were offended and hurt by the speech.
He stressed that BN stands on the principles of unity, stability and togetherness of a multiracial and multireligious people.
He called on all political leaders to avoid politics that inflames sentiment, and instead prioritise leadership capable of uniting society.
