Zahid said only two leaders have appealed their suspensions so far, namely former MPs Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Salim Sharif. Tajuddin’s suspension was lifted in November.

Zahid said he respected the motion by the Sembrong Umno division for its former divisional chief Hishammuddin Hussein to be reinstated as a party member. However, the party’s official procedures must be followed.

“Any polemic or public statement that isn’t followed by formal action will hold no value in terms of party procedures,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

Hishammuddin, who is Sembrong MP, was suspended by Umno for six years in January 2023. He said then that he would not appeal as he was never informed of the reason for the disciplinary action against him.

Zahid had said last month that he would leave it to the Umno Supreme Council to decide on the Sembrong division’s motion for Hishammuddin’s reinstatement. However, he pointed out that Hishammuddin, a former Umno vice-president, has yet to submit an appeal or apology.

Zahid said Umno respected the voice of the grassroots and that the party remained open to reinstating sacked or suspended members. However, these members must be sincere and remorseful over their past actions to ensure they were not seeking the reinstatement for their own political agenda.

“We are not closing the door totally, but we are also not forgetting the past hurts. If accusations had been made publicly, then apologies must also be made publicly.”

Besides Hishammuddin, former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan was also suspended from the party, not long after calling for Zahid to step down as party president following the results of the 2022 general election, when Umno won just 26 seats.

Former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin and former Tanjong Karang MP Noh Omar were sacked from Umno for breaching party discipline during the election campaign.