PETALING JAYA: An Amanah leader has called on menteri besar Amirudin Shari to replace Umno’s Noorazli Said as the Dengkil constituency coordinator after Noorazli was charged in court with allegedly wounding religious feelings.
Abbas Azmi of Selangor Amanah said politicians who fail to appreciate Malaysia’s multicultural society should not be appointed to administrative roles.
“Noorazli’s speech should not be taken lightly as it touches on cultural sensitivities,” Abbas told FMT, referring to a controversial "joke" involving Catholic clergy that Noorazli made at the Umno general assembly in September.
“If we do not curb such behaviour, it will cause unease among the country’s multiracial and multi-religious communities.”
Abbas, who is Selangor Amanah’s communications director, said he conveyed his views to Amirudin and was confident the menteri besar would act to preserve harmony and unity in the state.
Call to review Umno ties
Noorazli, the Sepang Umno chief, sparked controversy with a lewd remark involving a Catholic priest and a nun and a punchline that he attributed to Psalm 129 in the Bible, although no such passage appears.
Noorazli subsequently apologised. He was charged earlier this month with wounding the religious feelings of Christians and claimed trial.
Abbas, who is also the Seri Serdang assemblyman, called on Pakatan Harapan to review its ties with Umno and Barisan Nasional following a string of controversies involving their leaders at the national level.
Apart from Noorazli’s remarks, he cited controversies involving Felda and Tabung Haji, as well as the constitutional crisis in Negeri Sembilan.
“The Malays cannot accept what has happened,” he said.