Kota kinabalu: Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) has urged an UMNO Division Chief to publicly apologise to all Christians over his remarks during the 2026 UMNO General Assembly. Its Chairman, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, emphasized the inappropriate nature of the comments, which involved priests, nuns, and the Bible, and highlighted that such remarks were excessive and unbefitting of a political leader's maturity.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Arthur stated that trivializing the remarks as merely a 'joke' is not a valid excuse to dismiss the impact and sensitivities they have triggered. He emphasized that political differences should not grant anyone the freedom to mock the religion and beliefs of others just for entertainment or applause at public gatherings.

Arthur, who also serves as the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, urged all political leaders to respect the boundaries concerning 3R issues-race, religion, and the royal institution-to maintain public order and national harmony. He reiterated that BN stands firm in its commitment to unity and the stability of Malaysia's multi-ethnic society, rejecting the use of religion as a political punchline.

He concluded by urging the Division Chief to issue a public apology without any pretexts, particularly to all Malaysians of the Christian faith who were offended and hurt by the remarks.