SEREMBAN: The Rumah Bangsa initiative by Umno is for former members who wish to rejoin the party willingly, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said Umno's strength lies in its grassroots operating collectively rather than as individuals.
Mohamad explained that although Umno and its component partners in Barisan Nasional are cooperating with Pakatan Harapan (PH), the cooperation is solely to manage the country and does not involve the parties' political agenda.
"Our coalition remains with MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS). If anyone wants to take up the Rumah Bangsa offer, it must be willingly, continuing the struggle on Umno's platform," he told reporters after presenting Ramadan aid in Mambau here on Monday (March 9).
Mohamad was commenting on claims by some former Umno members who rejected the initiative and described Rumah Bangsa as still being within the framework of the Madani government.
Meanwhile, he said former members who wish to rejoin Umno must apply formally by submitting a letter to the party's secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
"The application will be handled carefully by first referring it to the respective divisions and states. If there are no objections from the division and state levels, the application will be discussed at the management committee level before being brought to the supreme council, as the authority to readmit members rests with them," he said.
Last Friday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party welcomes any former members who had been expelled or suspended to return unconditionally.
He also recalled the event in 1996 when Parti Melayu Semangat 46 was dissolved by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and all its members were accepted back into Umno en bloc (as a whole) without conditions. - Bernama
