UMNO has moved to invite expelled and suspended leaders from BERSATU to join its “Rumah Bangsa” initiative following what it described as internal party cleansing actions within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) component party.
UMNO Secretary-General Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party is prepared to accept anyone without conditions, including former BERSATU leaders who were recently removed or suspended.
“UMNO is ready to accept anyone without conditions, including those expelled or suspended from BERSATU, into Rumah Bangsa, which is a platform for ummah unity,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday.
He added that many of those involved originally came from UMNO, describing the situation as “returning to their roots”.
“It is like the saying, the sirih returns to its stem,” he said.
The invitation comes after BERSATU’s disciplinary board announced disciplinary action against its members, including the expulsion of two Kedah state assemblymen and suspension of seven others.
The two expelled Kedah representatives are Sungai Tiang assemblyman Abdul Razak Khamis, who is also Deputy Speaker of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, and Suka Menanti assemblyman Dzowahir Ab Ghani, who also serves as Alor Setar division chief.
Earlier in March, UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly said the party would open its doors widely to former members who had been expelled or suspended, under the Rumah Bangsa initiative.
Deputy Prime Minister Zahid had said the initiative is aimed at uniting individuals who wish to return to UMNO’s political struggle without conditions.
Asyraf Wajdi, who also heads Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), said UMNO must remain inclusive and open-minded in welcoming former members back into the party.
He said the return of former members would strengthen UMNO and reinforce its unity agenda.
“UMNO must have the spirit to embrace those who were once part of the party, as they return to the fold,” he said, adding that the party had recorded around 17,000 new online registrations in the past two weeks.
