KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin hailed several former Umno leaders who disputed the 'invitation' from the party's president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to the sacked and suspended members to rejoin the party, due to doubts about the sincerity of the invitation.
The former leaders Khairy was referring to are former Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and former Umno Tebrau chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang.
"This is because we don't know why we were sacked and suspended, or what action qualifies us to be fired and suspended, what are we appealing for?" he said in the Keluar Sekejap Podcast programme with former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.
Khairy said he still has doubts because he does not know the reason for his dismissal and what appeal needs to be made, despite statements from the Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, and several other representatives including from Sabah and Johor who suggested that the party 'coax' the sacked and suspended members.
"As mentioned by Hishammudin, this matter was never brought to the party's Disciplinary Board and did not go through the proper process, so what do we want to appeal," he said.
Khairy also said he will not resort to anything drastic and extreme to heed Umno while adding that the principle is not a translation of their ego.
Meanwhile, Shahril thinks that the past cannot be changed.
"The decision was made by the party president, technically the Supreme Council but the fact is that it is the president's decision," he stressed.
While thanking the members who have always given support and asking them to return to the party, Shahril said he did not have any personal issues with the Umno president.
"I have voiced what I feel is necessary for Umno to move forward, he did not accept and then decided to suspend my membership on the advice of certain people, so I accept his decision," he said.
Shahril also said that the president has the right to do what he feels is best for the party.
"However, if we are asked to emulate Lokman Adam to be accepted again, if that is what is considered good, I think it is okay for me to remain outside and continue with what the president thinks is best," he said, adding that he is not arrogant but what has already happened cannot be erased.
Shahril said the door for him to return to Umno is not completely closed but he does not want to complicate and trouble the party president because there are still many Umno members who would not accept the members who have been sacked or suspended.