KJ met me ‘several times’ about return, says Zahid

 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says there had been 'very encouraging response' to the Rumah Bangsa initiative for former members to return.

Asked about Khairy Jamaluddin’s intentions, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party had no problem accepting anyone who wants to return without any conditions.

PETALING JAYA:

 Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has met Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi “several times” about returning to Umno since his expulsion in January 2023, the party president said today.

Zahid said Umno has received a “very encouraging” response to its Rumah Bangsa initiative for former members who had been expelled or suspended to rejoin the party.

“I believe Umno will flourish as new brothers have emerged among those who wish to rejoin,” he said while at an event in his parliamentary constituency of Bagan Datuk, Bernama reported.

He said returning members as well as new members must make formal applications to a committee chaired by vice-president Khaled Nordin.

Asked about Khairy’s intentions, Zahid said the former health minister had met him several times to express his wish to rejoin the party. He said Umno had no problem accepting anyone who wants to return without any conditions.

Zahid had announced on Friday that Umno was opening its doors unconditionally to all, including former members, and that “all past mistakes and differences will be forgiven” in the spirit of Ramadan.

On Friday, Khairy said that the Rumah Bangsa initiative was “a (good) opportunity for me” and he would start drafting (a letter to apply to return). Earlier today, he said Zahid’s offer to former members might be a lure to bring back former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.

Separately, Umno Supreme Council member Zambry Abd Kadir said the Rumah Bangsa initiatitve was not meant solely for certain individuals but was open to all who wished to join the party.

He said it was open to everyone as it is based on collective action, with Umno serving as the platform of struggle not for specific individuals but for all, including Khairy. “Each has their own strengths, each has contributions that can be made as mentioned by the party president,” he said.

Another Supreme Council member, Razlan Rafii, said the party had potential to shine again if the major Malay parties can be united ahead of the next general election. He said Zahid’s initiative for “all Malays to find shelter under this Rumah Bangsa without conditions” was something that the Malay community had long been waiting for.

Malays should take lessons from other countries where the political power of the indigenous community had been gradually eroded due to divisions, he said. - FMT