Zahid, the rural and regional development minister, said the Sembrong MP had not contested the suspension handed down in January 2023.

“We will wait for the motion to be brought by Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi for discussion in the political bureau,” he said at a press conference today.

The Sembrong Umno division recently passed a motion urging the party leadership to revoke the six-year suspension of its former division chief.

Onn Hafiz, who is also the Johor Umno chief, pledged to bring the motion to the party’s top leadership.

Umno suspended Hishammuddin’s membership for six years in January 2023.

Media reports at the time cited a suspension letter stating that he was penalised for breaching Clause 20.9 of the party constitution, although no details were disclosed.

In December last year, there were renewed calls for Hishammuddin to return to Umno after the Supreme Council lifted the suspension of former Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

Zahid was previously reported as saying that Umno was open to accepting Hishammuddin back into the fold, but that he should follow Tajuddin’s example by submitting an appeal.

Hishammuddin has refused to do so, saying he was never informed of the reason for his suspension.