In a Facebook posting, Rafiq said his return to Umno had nothing to do with the party now being part of the unity government.

“I am sincere, determined and committed to help and to fight with the Umno leadership, especially the Melaka Umno leadership and the Tangga Batu division, to restore the support and trust of the people towards Umno,” he wrote.

Rafiq said he submitted his application to rejoin Umno several weeks ago.

The decision to accept him back into the fold was made at a Umno Supreme Council meeting last night which was chaired by president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy, Mohamad Hassan, he said.

In October 2016, Rafiq was suspended by the party for six years and he was dropped as an Umno Youth exco member.

He subsequently joined Bersatu, but resigned after he was not allowed to contest the Tangga Batu parliamentary seat in the 15th general election last November.