Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirms two parties, including Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia, have applied to rejoin Umno en bloc.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has accepted two applications from political parties seeking to join it en bloc.
President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed the applications during his winding-up speech at the 2025 Umno General Assembly.
He named one of the parties as Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia, which is led by Tan Sri Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.
Ahmad Zahid did not disclose the name of the second party that has applied.
“I have talked to Tan Sri Kadir Sheikh Fadzir who wants to hand his party to us to be absorbed,” he said.
The applications will be studied by a newly announced Committee on Uniting the Race.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, appointed Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin to lead this committee.
The committee will ensure the applications are processed according to Umno’s constitution and regulations.
He addressed concerns from Umno members about former members returning as election candidates.
Ahmad Zahid stated that any decision on candidacy would ultimately be made by him in the future.
“Yesterday, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had a dialogue with several Umno members who voiced their concerns about the matter,” he said.
“InsyaAllah I am still the Barisan Nasional chairman who will sign the letters of appointment, so the decision is mine.”
He added that he would be the one making the final decision on who will contest any seats involved.
The Committee to Unite the Race was established to study and accept individual or en bloc applications to join Umno.
