Umno's 'desperate' second-chance offer for ex-members

Umno's 'desperate' second-chance offer for ex-members

Published: May 27, 2024 9:57 PM


Former Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil sees Umno’s apparent willingness to give former members a second chance to join the party as a sign of desperation.

Contrary to the claims many Umno members who had been sacked since the last general election are looking for a way back into the party, Isham said many current Umno members would be unwilling to even vote for the party in an election, let alone those who have been terminated.

This is because the party has strayed from its founding principles under Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s presidency by aligning with Pakatan Harapan, especially DAP.

Likewise, he noted that Umno is losing its traditional support base to other parties like PAS or Bersatu if they come out to vote at all.

“I’m sure (Umno) knows these facts, and they know they will be badly defeated in many seats in future elections if the situation persists. They have lost their own grassroots support, and they are worried.

“To stem the situation, they needed to bring back the grassroots that have left and the leaders they had sacked.

“Therefore, the reality is not that the grassroots who have distanced themselves and the leaders who had been sacked want to return to (Umno), but (Umno) is desperate to for them to return so (Umno) would win Malay support,” he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, the New Straits Times quoted Umno supreme council member Jalaluddin Alias saying that the party is ready to accept members and leaders who had been removed after the last general election.

This is to give a second chance to those who remain loyal and still believe in the struggles championed by Umno, despite having had their membership revoked.

However, Isham said he will not be taking up the opportunity.

Isham was sacked on Dec 6 last year for breaching party rules, including criticising the leadership openly and labelling the party as barua DAP (DAP lackey).