September 14, 2026

New Malaysia Times

Malaysia news without ads & paywall

Akmal Demands Public Apology Over Catholic Priest Joke at UMNO Assembly

Akmal Saleh Catholic priest joke UMNO apology

MELAKA, Sept 14 — UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh has called on the individual who made a joke about Catholic priests at the party’s recent general assembly to issue an immediate public apology to all Malaysians.

Akmal, who also serves as Melaka Rural Development, Agriculture, and Food Security Committee chairman, emphasized that religion should never be made a subject of ridicule or humor by anyone.

“Imagine if the joke about a priest had instead been about an imam and Muslims, surely we would also be angry,” Akmal said in a Facebook post today. “If we are angry when something like that is done to us, then we should not do the same to others… so I urge this individual to apologise publicly to all Malaysians.”

He further clarified that the offensive remarks do not represent UMNO’s official stance, describing the statement strictly as the speaker’s personal opinion.

The call for an apology follows strong criticism from Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, who urged the speaker to issue an unconditional public apology to Catholics and the broader Christian community. Madius condemned the party division chief’s remarks involving Holy Scripture, Catholic priests, and nuns as inappropriate, offensive, and sexually suggestive.

NMT