However, he said Umno is open to anyone keen to become members.

“The terms and processes for the membership are subject to the party’s constitution and rules,” he said in a statement today.

The six former Umno MPs are Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Shabudin Yahaya (Tasik Gelugor), Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Mohamad Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam) and Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah).

They were said to have left the party on Dec 14.

Malay daily Berita Harian, citing sources, had reported that the six had buckled under legal pressure from Umno, which filed a lawsuit against them after they resigned. Details of the suit were not available.

It quoted a party source as saying that the six had held discussions with Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who chairs the party’s council of advisers, before submitting their application forms to rejoin Umno last week.

FMT reported earlier today that Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa was tight-lipped on reports that the six were seeking a return.

Umno has lost 17 MPs, including the six, following Barisan Nasional’s defeat in the May 9 general election.