Avoid divisive rhetoric, respect all faiths, Kuching archbishop tells M’sians

In a Malaysia Day message, Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching emphasized the importance of moving away from hostility and embracing kindness and sincere friendship among Malaysians. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia (CBCM) cautioned against prejudice and warned against the use of divisive political and religious language. Archbishop Poh, also the president of the CBCM, expressed his disappointment over an ill-advised joke shared by an Umno division chief during the party’s recent general assembly.

The incident, which involved the offensive joke about religious figures, Archbishop Poh stated, was hurtful to the Catholic community, as priests and nuns are highly respected for their selfless work in hospitals, welfare institutions, and schools that serve Malaysians from all walks of life. Following an outpouring of public outrage, calls for legal action, public apologies, retractions, and redress, Archbishop Poh called on Malaysians to exercise caution in their language and refrain from using prejudiced remarks that could promote hatred or stereotypes.

In his appeal for harmony and nation-building, Archbishop Poh urged citizens to reflect on their shared identity as "anak-anak Malaysia" and to move away from hostility, replacing it with kindness and sincere friendship. This message came after a national-level Catholic pastoral convention held in Sibu, Sarawak, from September 9 to 13, where over 1,000 Catholic delegates gathered to discuss a range of societal issues, including family life, youth, ecology, welfare services, and nation-building.