Khaled said it is part of the party’s tradition and leadership practice to evaluate every motion brought forward by Umno divisions, Bernama reported.
“That motion came from just one of Umno’s 191 divisions nationwide.
“As with motions from other divisions, it will be submitted to the party’s headquarters for review and consideration before any decision is made,” he told reporters after officiating the Batu Pahat Umno delegates’ meeting at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim today.
Khaled, who is also the defence minister, added that Umno has yet to receive any appeal from the former party vice-president, but the motion to lift the suspension will still be studied and considered.
“For now, it’s just a motion and we will take it into account,” he said.
Yesterday, the Sembrong Umno division in Johor submitted a motion calling for Hishammuddin’s suspension to be lifted immediately and unconditionally.
The division’s chief Abdul Ghani Abdul Rashid said this was the second consecutive year the division had brought forward the motion, reflecting the wish of the majority of delegates who want Hishammuddin to return to active party leadership.
Johor Umno chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who officiated the division’s meeting yesterday, pledged to bring the motion to the party’s top leadership.
Hishammuddin was suspended from the party in January 2023. According to media reports, the suspension letter stated it was due to a violation of Clause 20.9 of the party’s constitution, though no further details were provided.
Hishammuddin, who is still the MP for Sembrong, said he refused to appeal as he was never informed of the reasons for his suspension.
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki today said the party is open to receiving and discussing such motions at the upcoming Supreme Council meeting.
“In Hishammuddin’s case, I’m open to any motion brought forward,” he said after officiating the Rompin Umno division delegates’ meeting in Muadzam Shah, Pahang.
Earlier, FMT quoted political analyst Mazlan Ali as saying that Hishammuddin must speak up if he hopes to have his six-year suspension lifted.
He said that if Hishammuddin remains silent and does not express a desire to appeal against his suspension, Umno leaders are under no obligation to accept him back.