Unity minister condemns Umno assembly joke on Catholic clergy, urges authorities to act

Delegates attend the 2026 Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on September 12, 2026. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

By Malay Mail

First Published: Tuesday, 15 Sep 2026 9:49 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang has denounced a controversial remark made during the Umno General Assembly 2026 that used Catholic priests and nuns as the subject of a joke, warning that such conduct crosses a line that must not be tolerated in Malaysia's multi-religious society.

In a media statement today, Dagang said he views the controversy seriously, stressing that jokes touching on religious institutions, religious figures, holy texts or the beliefs of any community are never acceptable, regardless of the intent behind them.

"Religion is not a joke," the minister said, adding that matters held sacred by a community should never be mocked, turned into sexually-toned humour, or exploited merely to draw laughter and applause from a crowd.

Dagang argued that freedom of speech and political expression do not give anyone licence to trample on the religious sensitivities of others, and said this principle must be applied evenly regardless of religion, race, status or political affiliation.

The minister has called on relevant ministries and enforcement agencies to look into the matter and launch investigations if any legal provisions were breached, citing Sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code as well as related provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

While acknowledging that the individual behind the remark has expressed willingness to apologise, Dagang said he hopes the episode will serve as a reminder to leaders, public speakers and society at large to exercise greater care when addressing matters of religion and belief.

He also linked the controversy to the fifth principle of the Rukun Negara — Courtesy and Morality — describing it as a foundational value that safeguards mutual respect and harmony in Malaysia's diverse society, rather than a mere slogan.