Kuala lumpur: UMNO has yet to discuss former minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s intention to rejoin the party, said its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. “So far, not yet,” he stated briefly when questioned about the former UMNO Youth chief’s reported desire to return, following his keynote address at the 2025 Putrajaya Festival of Ideas.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid mentioned meeting Khairy at the wedding of Perlis UMNO chairman Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman’s daughter last Sunday. However, he refrained from confirming or denying claims that he had given his blessing for Khairy’s return to UMNO. “I only met him at the wedding ceremony, and we didn’t discuss anything. What appeared in the media is news written by the media, and I respect that. I don’t wish to contradict any journalist who wrote about the matter, unlike what someone else once did,” he remarked.

Earlier media reports suggested that Khairy, who is commonly referred to by his initials KJ, is anticipated to rejoin UMNO before the upcoming Sabah state election later this month. Reports indicated that the former health minister had received the “blessing” of UMNO’s top leadership, particularly Ahmad Zahid himself, during the wedding event.

Khairy was expelled from UMNO in January 2023 for openly criticising the party’s top leadership during the 15th General Election campaign. Despite his expulsion, Khairy has consistently expressed his decision not to join any other party, maintaining his loyalty to UMNO.