JOHOR BAHRU, Johor: UMNO’s former vice-president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, on Thursday expressed his readiness to resume active involvement in the party should the leadership decide to lift the suspension of his membership.
The Sembrong Member of Parliament said a recent statement by UMNO’s president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, which opened the door for suspended, expelled or former members to return to the party unconditionally, was a gesture he greatly appreciated.
“It is important for me to issue this statement and clarification today as I have received numerous queries and calls following the statement made by the UMNO president recently.
“Together with the people of Sembrong, I would like to take this opportunity today to express that we are touched and grateful for what the president has said regarding the party leadership’s decision to accept those who had been expelled, suspended, or who had left the party, without conditions,” he said in a 2.42-minute video posted on Facebook on Thursday.
Hishammuddin said that throughout the three years of his suspension, he had never attacked or left UMNO and remained ready to continue his struggle with the party should the leadership decide to revoke the suspension.
“The issue concerns my status as an UMNO member, as the Supreme Council had previously decided to suspend me.
“So if the party leadership is sincere in its position and decides to lift the suspension against me, I will return to continue fighting in UMNO, especially with Sembrong, to close ranks within Sembrong UMNO, strengthen Johor UMNO, and work together with the party leadership to empower our struggle in this historic party,” he said.
UMNO’s internal crisis intensified following the 15th General Election when several senior leaders were subjected to disciplinary action, including suspension and expulsion.
Hishammuddin was suspended from the party for six years beginning January 27, 2023.
UMNO’s former information chief, Shahril Sufian Hamdan, was also suspended, while UMNO Youth’s former chief, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, was expelled during the same period.
The move sparked various reactions at the grassroots level, including from the party’s Sembrong division, which has repeatedly proposed since 2024 that Hishammuddin’s suspension be lifted unconditionally.
Last Friday, Ahmad Zahid said UMNO was opening its doors as widely as possible for any former members who had been expelled or suspended to return to the party, without conditions. – BERNAMA
