WANITA Keadilan has condemned an UMNO delegate over a derogatory remark targeting a Catholic priest and nun, saying such conduct has no place in a multiracial and multi-religious Malaysia.
Its secretary Sangetha Jayakumar said the remark could not simply be dismissed as a joke, particularly when it involved respected figures of another faith.
“This was not a slip of the tongue; it was a deliberate and disrespectful insult that has caused deep pain to the Catholic community and outraged all right-thinking Malaysians,” she said in a statement today.
Sangetha said the episode also reflected what she described as the continued reliance by certain quarters in UMNO on race and religious politics.
She said political parties should instead be addressing issues affecting Malaysians, including the economy, technological development and social welfare.
“While everyday Malaysians are working hard to put food on the table and build a prosperous nation, these delegates prove they are intellectually bankrupt,” she said.
Sangetha said Malaysia’s diversity should be regarded as a strength rather than something to be exploited for political mileage.
She warned that remarks targeting religious figures could undermine the mutual respect needed to preserve the country’s social harmony.
“Religion and faith are sacred. Trivialising respected figures of any faith threatens the very fabric of our national unity,” she said.
Wanita Keadilan called on the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to investigate the incident, saying any insult involving religion should be taken seriously.
It also urged UMNO’s leadership to take disciplinary action against the delegate and issue an unreserved apology to the Christian community.
“Silence or inaction is complicity,” Sangetha said.
She said Wanita Keadilan would continue to stand against what it described as divisive race and religious politics, and urged political leaders to focus on building a progressive Malaysia. – September 15, 2026
