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FORMER UMNO youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has said he will accept whatever decision is made by the party’s Supreme Council regarding his application to rejoin the party, with a verdict expected later this month.
Khairy confirmed that his appeal will be tabled before the party’s Supreme Council on 17 April, following discussions with party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ahead of the recent Hari Raya celebrations.
"Regarding my status (application to rejoin UMNO), I have met with the President before Hari Raya.
"I was informed that on 17 April, the application will be presented to the Supreme Council and will be decided on the same day.
"Whatever decision is made by the party, I will accept," he told reporters when met at an open house event hosted by Bertam state assemblyman Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
The development comes amid reports that several former UMNO leaders, including Khairy and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, submitted applications last month to return to the party.
Hishammuddin, along with former UMNO information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, Jempol division chief Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Sharif and former Tebrau division chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang, had previously been suspended for six years.
Khairy and former Selangor UMNO liaison chief Tan Sri Noh Omar were expelled following disciplinary breaches during the 15th Malaysian General Election. The suspensions and expulsions were decided by the party’s Supreme Council on 27 January 2023.
Addressing speculation that he could contest the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat, Khairy dismissed such talk as premature while his party membership remains unresolved.
"I have just applied to rejoin UMNO, so I think it is too early for us to discuss which seat I might contest.
"I have also requested to return to my former membership in the Sungai Buloh division… that is the first thing.
"Secondly, the decision on who contests where, under Barisan Nasional, rests with the chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"So we cannot pre-empt such matters, but thirdly, and most importantly for me, regarding Kepala Batas — when the late Tun Abdullah (Pak Lah) was still around, he reminded us.
"We were both his protégés — I was his son-in-law, and Reezal was his political protégé — and he told us that Kepala Batas should be looked after by Reezal. So how could I not respect the wishes of my elder," he said. - April 11, 2026