BAGAN DATUK, May 10: UMNO will consider applications from lawmakers and leaders of Bersatu who have been expelled or suspended should they seek to join the party through the Rumah Bangsa initiative, said Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“If there are applications, we will consider them. We are open because, as a political party that upholds the concept of Rumah Bangsa, we have an open policy,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after launching the 2026 National-Level MARA Prihatin programme at Sultan Azlan Shah Maritime Polytechnic here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid was commenting on a statement by UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who welcomed Bersatu lawmakers and leaders suspended or expelled from the party to join UMNO through the Rumah Bangsa initiative.
Yesterday, Bersatu’s Disciplinary Board expelled and suspended several lawmakers and party leaders with immediate effect.
Those expelled were Suka Menanti assemblyman and Bersatu Alor Setar division chief Dzowahir Ab Ghani, Sungai Tiang assemblyman Abdul Razak Khamis, and Hulu Langat division chief Muhammad Faiz Rahmad.
Five Members of Parliament were suspended from their membership rights for two party election terms, namely Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Datuk Abdul Khalib Abdullah (Rompin), Nordin Ahmad Ismail (Lumut), and Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu).
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) are comfortable working with all component parties in the Unity Government, as they share common objectives, particularly in serving the interests of the people.
The UMNO president said the ease of cooperation that has emerged does not indicate complacency, but is instead the result of strong understanding among parties in the government to ensure the people are not burdened by political polemics.
“The people must not be troubled by prolonged polemics and differences in stance or views,” the Deputy Prime Minister said in a special interview held in conjunction with UMNO’s 80th anniversary recently.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the BN chairman, said that in the interest of the people, all parties in the Unity Government have agreed to set aside differences and political considerations to ensure the effective implementation of every agenda outlined in the 15th General Election (GE15) manifesto.
He said the government gave priority to common ground in the manifestos of parties contesting GE15, particularly on issues related to the cost of living, education and unemployment.
“On matters concerning education and unemployment, there is no disagreement between the competing parties,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister.
He also said that 47 per cent of the manifestos of parties in the Unity Government had common elements, thereby forming a strong foundation for existing cooperation.
“Why should we be concerned about differences when we share the same goal?
“In addition, there are detailed issues that we must address. That is why we have the Inter-Party Consultative Council, to resolve differences and ensure the manifesto is implemented with clear purpose,” he said.
In the meantime, Ahmad Zahid emphasised that all component parties in the Unity Government, including DAP, upheld the four main pillars enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“This is evident in the comfort that has developed and the strong respect shown towards the agreement to form the Unity Government, which is founded on four main pillars, namely Islam, the Malay Rulers, the Malay language and the special rights of the Malays.
“They not only respect it but also acknowledge that that this is a fact enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.
The Unity Government was formed after GE15 in 2022, when no coalition secured a simple majority, and is led by Pakatan Harapan together with BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Warisan, as well as supported by several other parties and independent Members of Parliament.
–BERNAMA