UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has received Khairy Jamaluddin’s request to return to the party.

In a Facebook post on Monday (March 16), Ahmad Zahid said he personally accepted the application from the former Umno Youth chief and would forward it to the Rumah Bangsa initiative unity committee for review and consideration.

The committee is chaired by party vice president Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

“Rumah Bangsa is an effort to reunite those who were once apart, strengthen the bonds that have weakened, and bring us together as one large family of struggle,” Ahmad Zahid wrote.

He said that the priority was to find ways to unify the party rather than allow divisions to continue.

“What matters most is finding the path to unity, not letting differences separate us,” he added.

In a statement issued in response to reports of his recent visit, Khairy said he was received by Zahid in the spirit of the party’s “Rumah Bangsa” initiative.

“Insya’Allah, I’m coming home,” he said.

“With the president’s magnanimity, he has welcomed me back to my old home, he only home I have ever known,” Khairy said.

He confirmed that he has officially appealed for his expulsion to be revoked and for his original membership number to be reactivated, with the final decision resting with the Umno Supreme Council.

“I do not ask to return to this vessel of the nation with any conditions, personal ambitions or demands. It is enough for me to be given the chance to be an ordinary crew member,” he stated.