BUKIT GANTANG: Former Umno members who wish to rejoin the party will only be accepted as normal members, says vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
"You can rejoin, but only as an ordinary member and you must pledge not to jump from one place to another."
He said this in response to questions about the status of Bukit Gantang member of parliament Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal.
He said anyone who had been ousted or left the party on their own, and who wished to rejoin it, must follow specific procedures that have been established.
"It doesn't matter who they are, even if they have disobeyed party orders for two terms, we can accept them.
"But they can only be ordinary members and must follow the set procedures and pledge," he said during a press conference after officiating the Bukit Gantang Umno division representatives meeting at Hotel Taiping Perdana today.
Syed Abu Hussin was among six MPs expelled from Bersatu for supporting the prime minister and government, and had not decided which party to join should a by-election be called in his constituency.
However, he claimed that a by-election was unlikely to happen and it would not change the current government even if the opposition won, other than inconveniencing the public.
Yesterday, the media reported that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had confirmed receiving many applications from former members to rejoin the party.
He said the matter was now being referred to the disciplinary board to determine their membership.
"The matter will also be presented to the Umno management committee to be finalised and decided by the Supreme Council," he added.