Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said Dzulkifli joined the party through the regular process, without involving top-level negotiations.

“He dealt with the branch and division chiefs directly (with respect to his application to join Umno). He’s starting from the bottom, not using Umno as a transit.

“There was no red carpet and no promise of any positions. No big fuss,” he said in a Facebook post.

Puad previously said that one of Umno’s biggest mistakes was “spoiling” Tengku Zafrul Aziz by giving him the red-carpet treatment.

His comment followed Tengku Zafrul’s decision to quit as an Umno member, and his plans to join PKR instead.

Puad said Umno was happy to have Dzulkifli join the party, describing him as an asset who could help the party with issues of legislation, anti-corruption, and transparency.

It was reported on Saturday that Dzulkifli had officially joined Umno, through the Merbau Kudong branch under the Tasek Gelugor division.

Dzulkifli said he was joining as an ordinary member and that he had chosen Umno because of its past dominance.

He also said he hoped to bring “a new breath of life” to the Malay-based party.

Speculation was rife that Dzulkifli would contest the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat during the 15th general election in 2022, but the rumours never materialised.

He was appointed MACC chief on Aug 1, 2016 and resigned in May 2018 after Pakatan Harapan formed the government following its victory in the 14th general election.