Hisham: Umno grassroots may have wanted us back

KUALA LUMPUR: Responding to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying the party was open to calls to get suspended or sacked members to return to the party, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic) said he was unsure if it was sincere.

He said the calls could also be due to responses from the grassroots. “Maybe they (grassroots) want us back in the party.

“For myself and others who were suspended or sacked, we have nothing to lose. If the leadership really needs our services, sarcastic responses or conditional offers don’t mean anything.”

At the Umno general assembly on June 10, Ahmad Zahid, in his winding-up speech, said the party was open towards getting sacked or suspended members back.

“We hope those who have been sacked or suspended are those who are genuinely party men and not a ‘thorn in the flesh’,” Ahmad Zahid had said.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin, who is Sembrong MP, said he was in the dark over why he was slapped with a six-year suspension from Umno in January.

The former Umno vice-president said he was never called to give his statement to the party’s disciplinary board following his suspension.

“From what I know, we need to appeal to be accepted by the party again. Secondly, it has to be brought to the disciplinary board.

“Until today, I still don’t know why I’m suspended,” he added.

Apart from Hishammuddin, former information chief Shahril Hamdan, former supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, former Johor state exco member and Tebrau division chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang, former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Shariff and former Youth exco member Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya were also suspended for six years.

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and supreme council member Tan Sri Noh Omar were sacked.