“That’s very nice of him,” he said briefly to reporters when met at a product launch event today.

“I’m thankful for his comments and support, and I’ll certainly consider it.”

Yesterday, Akmal said he was open to facilitating the return of suspended and sacked Umno leaders such as Khairy, Hishammuddin Hussein and Shahril Hamdan.

“Those who were disciplined had contributed in ways we cannot forget. That’s why I say unity in Umno is crucial, and that unity cannot come from just one side,” he was quoted as saying.

Akmal also said those who had been suspended or sacked must set aside their egos if they truly cared about the party.

Khairy, himself a former Umno Youth chief and ex-Rembau MP and health minister, was sacked from Umno in January 2023 over alleged disciplinary breaches.

The Sembrong Umno division has also passed a resolution urging the party leadership to lift the suspension of Hishammuddin.

However, the former Umno vice-president has hinted that he will not appeal his suspension as he had not been officially informed of his wrongdoing.