Umno: Ex-Leaders Must Rejoin Without Seeking Positions – Isam Isa

PETALING JAYA: Umno is opening its doors to former members, but a key condition is that their return should be motivated by a desire to strengthen the party, not to reclaim positions of power, according to Tampin Umno chief Isam Isa.

Isa’s comments come after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced on Friday that the party would “unconditionally” welcome back those who had been expelled or suspended, as well as new members, in the spirit of Ramadan. The move appears aimed at bolstering the party’s ranks and potentially attracting back influential figures who have left in recent years.

“They rose through the ranks and gained advantages, including top positions, through Umno,” Isa said, referring to former leaders. “So, if they want to rejoin, they should do so unconditionally, not to vie for positions like president or deputy president.”

Several high-profile figures are reportedly considering a return to Umno. Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, expelled in January 2023 for allegedly breaching party discipline during the 15th general election, is said to have received the “green light” from top leadership to rejoin. Hishammuddin Hussein, a former vice-president who received a six-year suspension in 2023, has also been the subject of calls for reinstatement, with the Sembrong Umno division approving a motion in his favor last June.

Zahid’s announcement signals a potential shift in the party’s approach, emphasizing forgiveness and unity. The Rumah Bangsa task force, chaired by party vice-president Khaled Nordin, will oversee the re-entry process for returning members. The task force will coordinate applications from those wishing to rejoin the party.

The move also comes amid political realignments, including the recent expulsion of Hamzah Zainudin from Bersatu, a party he left Umno to join in 2018. Hamzah is reportedly seeking to establish a new political entity, Parti Keluarga Malaysia.

While Zahid’s statement extends an open invitation to all former members, Isa’s emphasis on selfless motives underscores a desire to prevent a power struggle within the party. The focus, he suggests, should be on collective strength rather than individual ambition.

Umno currently holds 8 seats in the Dewan Negara (Senate) and 26 seats in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives), with 100 representatives in state legislative assemblies. The party, founded in 1946, has a current membership of 3,525,000 as of 2026.