Catholic Bishops Urge Citizens to “Watch Our Words and Guard Our Hearts” on 63rd Malaysia Day

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia (CBCM) urged citizens to reject prejudice, hatred and divisive language and to strengthen mutual respect and friendship as the country celebrated its 63rd Malaysia Day on September 16.

In a Malaysia Day message, Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching, president of the CBCM, called on Malaysians to “watch our words and guard our hearts” when speaking about people of different races, religions and communities.

He also urged citizens to reject political and religious rhetoric that could hurt religious communities and deepen divisions in Malaysia’s multiracial and multireligious society.

The appeal followed an incident in which Datuk Noorazli Said, the Sepang UMNO division chief, shared an inappropriate “priest and nun joke” during a public gathering. The joke later went viral on social media.

Archbishop Poh said he was deeply saddened by the incident and stressed that jokes of this nature had no place in an official gathering. He noted that the incident was particularly hurtful because priests and religious sisters were held in high esteem by many Malaysians. He also highlighted the contribution of Catholic nuns who, for generations, had served people of different races and religions through hospitals, welfare institutions and schools.

The bishops’ message called the incident an opportunity to reflect on the importance of mutual respect in a country where people of different faiths have sought to live together in peace and harmony.

Archbishop Poh’s appeal came shortly after the Malaysia Pastoral Convention, held September 9–13 in Sibu, Sarawak. The national gathering brought together about 1,000 Catholic delegates, including cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, religious and church leaders from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

The convention identified four areas for renewed commitment: family life and youth, environment and ecology, welfare services, and nation-building.

The Church also recognized differences in wealth, economic development, education and infrastructure between regions, while emphasizing the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity that enriched the country.

Archbishop Poh described the convention as a “fresh start” for building genuine friendship between Peninsular Malaysia and the Bornean states of Sabah and Sarawak.

He said Malaysian Catholics had been encouraged to cherish their national identity, build bridges of goodwill and work with others for the common good.

Reflecting on his own life in Sarawak, Archbishop Poh said he had known Malaysia as a land of harmony, sincere friendship and mutual respect. He called on Malaysians to move away from hostility toward “kindness and sincere friendship,” describing this as a “conversion of heart.”

The message also encouraged Malaysians to appreciate the country’s blessings and extend hospitality to everyone living in the nation.

“Let us celebrate our blessings, be kind to each other, and offer true Malaysian hospitality to all living among us,” Archbishop Poh said.

He issued the message from Kuching on behalf of the country’s bishops and Catholic community, wishing Malaysians a blessed 63rd Malaysia Day.