DATUK Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed that UMNO has received many applications from its former members to return to the party.
The UMNO Secretary-General, however, informed that an official application from former Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin, to rejoin UMNO has not been received.
"As Secretary-General, I can tell you that we have indeed received many applications and we do welcome everyone.
"From the President's policy speech, we understand that this party is open to all. All of them because they originated from UMNO," he said at the UMNO 2025 General Assembly today.
Asyraf Wajid, when asked who among the former UMNO members are currently on the radar to return to the party, admitted that there are many, but chose not to reveal who the individuals are.
Regardless, he admitted that the establishment of the “Rumah Bangsa Unification Committee” proposed by President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday has the potential to help UMNO win more seats in the upcoming election.
He added that the introduction of an agenda is important and must be in line with the party's goal, which is to win the election.
He said that what was discussed in the UMNO General Assembly should be used as an improvement process to strengthen the party.
"The most important thing for any political party is to ultimately win the election to ensure that the agenda and the goals of the party's establishment are achieved,” he said.
Touching on the prospect of UMNO collaborating with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to face the 16th GE, he said the matter had not been decided yet.
This is because, he said, the party's current focus is on strengthening the existing government to ensure the stability of the country's administration.
"We have not made any decisions regarding that," he said. – January 17, 2026
