Umno Veterans Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub described former Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil’s claim as “unfounded”, saying the party continues to gain members daily.

“It is true that some members are taking a wait-and-see approach and are dissatisfied with the current Umno-Pakatan Harapan cooperation, but they remain loyal party members,” Mustapha said in a statement.

Earlier, Isham said he will not return to the party as it has strayed from its original path.

He was responding to Supreme Council member Jalaluddin Alias’s statement that Umno is prepared to welcome back leaders and members who were expelled after the 15th general election.

Isham described this as a “desperate” attempt for “Umno-DAP” to regain the support of the Malays.

In his statement, Mustapha pointed out that throughout Umno’s history, many leaders who left or expelled were welcomed back, including former president Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Therefore, it is not surprising if it happens now.

“Time heals all wounds, and broken ties can be mended. What is important is that all must be sincere and willing to forget past conflicts,” he said.

Mahathir was first expelled from Umno in 1969 after openly criticising then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in the aftermath of the May 13 racial riots, but was readmitted into the party in 1972 after Abdul Razak Hussein became the prime minister.

In 2008, Mahathir resigned from Umno over unhappiness with prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration and policies. The following year, he rejoined the party when Abdullah was replaced by Najib Razak as the prime minister.

In 2016, Mahathir left Umno again but, this time, in opposition to Najib’s handling of the 1MDB scandal. He subsequently founded a new political party, Bersatu.