BUKIT Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid has argued that an apology from Datuk Noorazli Said should not draw a line under the controversy surrounding his remarks at the UMNO General Assembly, saying the episode exposed a broader failure of political judgement.
“Political accountability cannot simply mean apologising after crossing the line. It must also mean having the judgment not to cross it in the first place,” she said in a recent statement.
Noorazli has said he did not intend to insult anyone and was “prepared to apologise” if his remarks caused misunderstanding.
Syerleena said an apology was necessary, but should not be treated as the end of the matter.
“We have seen this routine too often in Malaysian politics: an offensive remark is made, there is public anger, context is offered, intentions are explained, and eventually comes the apology. Then we reset.”
“The speak first, apologise later culture needs to stop,” she said.
Syerleena said the remarks involved a sexually suggestive joke concerning a Catholic priest and a nun, including a reference to a man’s hand touching a woman’s thigh.
She also criticised Noorazli’s use of Christian scripture in the joke, saying a reference to Psalm 129 did not contain the words attributed to it.
“There were many opportunities between recalling that joke and delivering its punchline for judgment and common sense to intervene,” she said.
“Apparently, neither did.”
She also rejected the suggestion that the fact the joke had circulated online provided a defence for repeating it publicly, saying political leaders were expected to exercise greater discretion.
“The internet is an endless repository of racism, misogyny, religious insults and stupidity. Political leaders are expected to possess sufficient discernment not to repeat everything they encounter online from a public platform,” she said.
Syerleena said she was offended by what she described as casual disrespect towards another community’s faith.
“Malaysian Christians should never have to protest before political leaders remember that their clergy, scripture and religious traditions deserve dignity. Respect should shape our conduct before offence is caused, not suddenly appear afterwards in an apology,” she said.
She also criticised the treatment of the nun in the joke, arguing that it trivialised concerns over unwanted touching and sexual harassment.
“That is not harmless humour and dismissing objections as oversensitivity would miss the point entirely,” she said.
Syerleena said Noorazli’s apology should not become “another reset button” allowing the conduct behind the controversy to be forgotten.
“Political leadership demands judgment before the controversy, not contrition after it. No Christian should have to explain why their faith deserves respect. No woman should have to explain why unwanted touching is not a joke. And no senior political leader should require a national backlash to discover what should have been basic common sense,” she said.
“So yes, Datuk Noorazli, apologise but perhaps spend less time explaining your intentions and more time reflecting on why basic decency had to be pointed out to you by everyone else.” - September 14, 2026
