Kuala Lampur, Sept. 17 -- As if on cue for Malaysia Day, Umno's General Assembly last weekend produced a furore over faith and sincerity in a divisive time.

Sepang division chief Noorazli Said took the pulpit to assure members that party president Zahid Hamidi was clever in his dealings with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan.

Almost no one pays attention to a minor division chief's political sermon with no national presence, so Noorazli does the predictable, he opts for a salacious joke to wrap his point.

Poor decision, considering the party is in religious frenzy to up its credential among Muslim population parties with the intention to benefit from communalism and equally to lead the community.

Umno wants to gain from...