Kuala lumpur: More prominent figures, including those currently aligned with opposition parties, are expected to rejoin UMNO through the Gagasan Rumah Bangsa initiative, said party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister revealed that a total of 6,252 individuals have so far submitted applications to return to the party or join as new members, describing the response as highly encouraging.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid stated that many former UMNO members who are now with opposition parties have expressed their intentions to return, although he chose not to disclose their names. He emphasized that the party welcomes all without conditions through the Rumah Bangsa initiative. The application process has been simplified to allow immediate approval upon submission of a letter expressing the intention to join.

Ahmad Zahid also announced that the UMNO Supreme Council has agreed to further streamline the process by delegating approval authority to a committee chaired by vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. This change aims to expedite applications and attract broader participation, especially among young members, through the introduction of online registration and digital membership cards.

Previously, applications had to go through multiple levels of approval, which was considered cumbersome and unappealing to the younger generation. Now, applications can be made directly online to headquarters, a change that is seeing a positive response.

Last Friday, it was reported that several prominent figures, including former UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, and former foreign minister Tan Sri Dr Syed Hamid Albar, have been unconditionally accepted back into the party under the Rumah Bangsa initiative. This decision was made during a Supreme Council meeting chaired by Ahmad Zahid, as confirmed by UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.