Olive branch extended as Akmal Saleh welcomes Khairy’s Umno return

SHAH ALAM — In a move that signals a notable shift toward reconciliation within Umno, former Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin has officially submitted his appeal to rejoin the party.

The application was personally handed to Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last night, in a gesture that reflect's the party’s broader effort at unity. The announcement was amplified by current Umno Youth Chief Dr Akmal Saleh, who hailed the development as a win for cohesion over division.

Sharing photos of a smiling Khairy at his residence, Zahid framed the encounter as a reflection of #RumahBangsa (Home of the Nation). He described it as a symbolic effort “to reunite those who were once separated” and “strengthen the ranks of the struggle.”

“In the journey of this struggle, as I often say — biduk lalu, kiambang bertaut (the boat passes, the duckweed reunites). What matters most is finding the path to unity, not letting division keep us apart,” Zahid said.

While Zahid personally accepted the application, it will now be forwarded to the Rumah Bangsa Unification Committee, chaired by Vice-President Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, for formal processing.

Dr Akmal was quick to signal his support, reposting the President’s announcement on Facebook.

For him, Khairy’s return marks the culmination of nearly a year of “olive branch” politics. He has consistently argued that Umno cannot afford fragmentation and has championed the return of sacked and suspended leaders.

In his repost, Akmal echoed the theme of unity over division — a potential pivot away from the factionalism that has shadowed Umno since 2022.

The reconciliation comes after a turbulent three-year period. Khairy was expelled in January 2023 following the 15th General Election. The Supreme Council, led by Zahid, cited breaches of party discipline, including Khairy’s public criticisms of the leadership and claims of “unseen forces” attempting to manipulate party polls.

For years, Khairy maintained that he had been “thrown out” without due process. In the interim, he became a political free agent and a popular media personality, co-hosting the widely-followed Keluar Sekejap podcast with former deputy Youth Umno Chief Shahril Hamdan.

The return of “KJ” is expected to inject fresh energy into Umno’s grassroots, particularly among the youth. All eyes are now on Khaled’s committee to determine how swiftly the former Rembau MP will be fully reinstated into the party fold.