EX-UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin has said he will leave it to the leadership of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) to decide on his future to rejoin the party, following his submission of an appeal letter earlier this month.
Khairy said he would not pre-empt any decision by the party’s top leadership, despite having formally submitted his application on March 16.
“It is up to the party leadership; let them decide whether to accept or reject my application to return to UMNO.
“I am not yet 100 per cent certain whether my application will be accepted or not. I leave it entirely to UMNO to decide,” he said when met at a Hari Raya open house hosted by UMNO executive secretary Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan in Benut near Pontian on Saturday.
Khairy was speaking at the event, which was also attended by Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Pontian UMNO division chief Ahmad Maslan.
Addressing speculation that he might contest a seat in Johor, the former Rembau MP said his immediate priority is simply to return as an ordinary member.
“I am asking to return as an ordinary member first; the rest can come later. This is a journey back to the party, there is no need to rush,” he said.
He added that the event marked his first appearance at a party function since announcing his intention to return to active involvement in UMNO.
“Sumali is among the key individuals who helped bring me back to UMNO. He arranged my meeting with the party President (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), so I am very grateful to him,” he said. - March 29, 2026
