JOHOR BARU: Those exiting Bersatu amid the party's recent internal crisis are welcome to join Umno, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Umno vice-president, who is also chairman of Rumah Bangsa, a platform to reunite those who had left the party, said he hoped Malay parties could come back under one platform.
"As Rumah Bangsa chairman, I welcome any application from them (former Bersatu members) to join Umno.
"Come back to Umno. It does not benefit the Malays if we continue to be divided.
"We need to stand together under one platform to champion the Malays and ensure that the Malays remain strong in facing various challenges," he said after handing over aid during a back-to-school programme Saturday (Feb 21).
Mohamed Khaled said this at a press conference when asked to comment on the internal crisis that had embroiled Bersatu.
He added that the current state of Bersatu reflected poorly on the party and its Perikatan Nasional coalition.
"In my view, it shows that they are only concerned with fighting over positions, rather than championing the needs and addressing the challenges faced by the community.
"That makes the party fragile. After only a few years, there are already splinter groups within the party.
"For a party like Umno, which has been around for a long time, of course there will be dissatisfaction that eventually leads to splinter parties, but this (Bersatu) is a new party and it already has splinter groups and so on," he said.
"It gives the impression that we cannot place high hopes or strong confidence in a party like this. That is all I can say," he added.
On Feb 13, Bersatu sacked 17 members, including several supreme council members and its deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
This led to the resignation of several party division leaders, including 11 in Johor.
