DAP reps pan Umno man’s lewd ‘joke’, apology offer

Two DAP elected representatives have criticized an Umno division leader's lewd joke involving Catholic clergy and his subsequent apology offer. Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid called for an end to the "cakap dulu, minta maaf kemudian" culture of issuing apologies after controversy, while Bilut assemblyman Lee Chin Chen said a conditional apology lacked sincerity.

Noorazli Said, Sepang Umno chief, said he was willing to apologize if his joke offended the Christian community, insisting he did not intend to insult or belittle anyone. However, Syerleena argued that an apology should not be a "reset button" that allows people to forget the conduct that warranted it. She suggested that an apology should include a reflection on why basic decency had to be pointed out.

Lee, an assistant DAP national organising secretary, pointed out that offering an apology for an inappropriate joke that insults a religion is different from an offer to apologize if the joke is found offensive. He emphasized that there must be no double standard when it comes to respecting different religions, and that if a politician uses Islam for a sexually suggestive joke, society should not accept excuses of misinterpretation or lack of malicious intent.