KUCHING: United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is adopting a more open approach by welcoming back former members as well as accepting new applicants to strengthen the party.
Supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan said the initiative reflects a “forgive and forget” stance, aimed at reuniting those who had previously left, been suspended or expelled from the party.
“We want to accept them back. When we have opened the door, it would not make sense to reject them,” he said during an iftar session with agencies under the Ministry of Works and Sarawak media here on Tuesday.
He was responding to former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s appeal to rejoin the party, which was accepted by party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Mondsy (Mar 16).
Ahmad Maslan, who is who Deputy Works Minister explained that the move covers three main groups — those who had faced disciplinary action, those who left the party voluntarily, and members of the public interested in joining the party’s struggle.
According to him, the application process has also been simplified, requiring only a formal letter of request, which will then be brought to the party’s supreme council for consideration.
Ahmad added that the party leadership meets monthly to deliberate on such applications, and decisions will be made collectively.
“Some applicants have requested to retain their original membership numbers, a matter that will also be decided by the supreme council,” he said.
The initiative, he said, is part of efforts to consolidate the party’s strength in Malaya and Sabah ahead of future political developments.
“More announcements on individuals returning to the party may be made from time to time,” he added.
Earlier, in a Facebook post, Ahmad Zahid confirmed he had accepted Khairy’s application, and that he will forward it to the Rumah Bangsa unity committee for consideration.
The committee is chaired by party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“Rumah Bangsa is an effort to reunite those who were once apart, strengthen the bonds that have weakened and bring us together as one large family of struggle,” Ahmad Zahid said.
He said that the priority was to find ways to halt divisions from continuing.
“What matters most is finding the path to unity, not letting differences separate us,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid said he hoped the initiative would serve as a way to reconnect hearts that were once separated, reinforce the party’s ranks, and restore Umno as the main political anchor for Malays and Muslims in the country.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to continue his political struggle during the holy month of Ramadan, Khairy said he has submitted an official request for his expulsion to be rescinded, and his original membership number reactivated.
“I thank the UMNO president for receiving my visit in the spirit of the Rumah Bangsa (Home of the Nation) initiative during this noble month of Ramadan.
“With a big heart, the president has welcomed me back to my old home, the only home I know,” Khairy said in a statement, where he added that he appreciated Ahmad Zahid’s openness in paving the way forward to strengthen the party.
