Umno is prepared to lift the party membership suspension of its former vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, according to two sources within the party's supreme council.
One of the sources told Malaysiakini that the Sembrong MP must, however, submit an application to return to Umno, under president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's “Rumah Bangsa” (Home for the Malays) vision.
"As the president has previously stated, we are opening our doors as wide as possible to those who wish to return to Rumah Bangsa Umno.
"So, it naturally follows that we are prepared to lift suspensions and welcome back members who were dismissed.
"However, proper procedure must be observed, a letter must be submitted to the party, and I believe there will be no issue with any of that," the source said.
On March 12, Hishammuddin (above) said he was ready to return to the party if its leadership lifts his suspension.
In a video on Instagram, the former defence minister said during his suspension period, he never left, nor attacked the party.
“What matters now is that I have never run away from the party. The issue has always been my status as an Umno member, whereby previously the supreme council had made the decision to suspend me.
“So tomorrow, if the party leadership’s position is genuinely sincere and they withdraw the suspension against me, I will return and continue my struggle within Umno," Hishammuddin said.
He was suspended from the party for six years in January 2023, alongside former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, while former Health Minister and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin was sacked.
Former Selangor Umno chief Nor Omar also received the boot.
Formal letter needed
Another supreme council source said, given Zahid's open invitation to those who had previously left or been expelled from the party, Hishammuddin's suspension would automatically be rendered void.
The source also confirmed that Umno's leadership is ready to lift the suspension.
"As I understand it, once the president made that announcement, his (Hishammuddin's) membership suspension was automatically nullified. However, he will still need to submit a formal letter requesting to rejoin Umno," the source said.
Last year, the Sembrong Umno division urged its party leadership to revoke the suspension imposed on Hishammuddin unconditionally.
Its division chief Abdul Ghani Abdul Rashid said it was the second time in two years that the division had passed a resolution calling for Hishammuddin's suspension to be lifted.
A new Home for the Malays?
During Umno’s annual general assembly in January, Zahid announced the formation of a new party committee dubbed the “Rumah Bangsa Unification Committee” to restore Malay political unity.
The deputy prime minister said this includes opening the door for individuals or groups that previously left the party to return to Umno.
He said the committee would facilitate the re-entry of certain parties, either individually or “en bloc”, in line with the aspiration to position Umno as the “big home of the Malays”.
“The idea of a ‘big umbrella’ for the Malays has been attempted without Umno before. But history has proven it did not receive support.
“That umbrella collapsed because it was not anchored to its original home. Why rely on an umbrella when the house already stands tall and beautiful?” Zahid asked.
Zahid noted that from Umno emerged various Malay parties and movements, including PAS, Semangat 46, PKR, Bersatu, Pejuang, Warisan, GRS, and even Gabungan Parti Sarawak with the same national spirit.
In a further reflection, Zahid insisted that Umno is the original home of Malay politics, from which the nation’s independence, Federal Constitution, as well as the principle of upholding Islam and the Malay rulers had emerged. - Mkini
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