Kuala lumpur: Former UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein today expressed his readiness to resume active involvement in the party should the leadership decide to lift the suspension of his membership. The Sembrong MP said a recent statement by UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, which opened the door for suspended, expelled or former members to return to the party unconditionally, was a gesture he greatly appreciated. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hishammuddin emphasized the importance of clarifying his position as he had received numerous queries and calls following the statement made by the UMNO president. He expressed gratitude for the president's remarks regarding the party leadership's decision to accept those who had been expelled, suspended, or who had left the party without conditions. His comments came in a 2.42-minute video posted on Facebook. Hishammuddin stated that during the three years of his suspension, he had never attacked or left UMNO and remained prepa red to continue his struggle with the party if the leadership decided to revoke the suspension. He noted that the issue concerned his status as an UMNO member, given the Supreme Council's previous decision to suspend him. He expressed willingness to return and continue fighting in UMNO, particularly with Sembrong, to unify Sembrong UMNO, strengthen Johor UMNO, and collaborate with the party leadership to empower their struggle. UMNO's internal crisis intensified following the 15th General Election when several senior leaders faced disciplinary actions, including suspension and expulsion. Hishammuddin was suspended from the party for six years starting January 27, 2023. Former UMNO information chief Datuk Shahril Sufian Hamdan was also suspended, and former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar was expelled during the same period. These actions sparked reactions at the grassroots level, including from the party's Sembrong division, which has repeatedly proposed since 2024 that Hishammuddin's suspension be lifted unconditionally. Last Friday, Ahmad Zahid stated that UMNO was opening its doors as widely as possible for any former members who had been expelled or suspended to return to the party without conditions.