PKR will have to make a collective decision if it wants to accept any former Umno members into its fold, deputy president Rafizi Ramli said.

He said it was not his decision alone to welcome any of the Umno leaders who had been recently dismissed by the party.

“We have to discuss that first at the party level. It is not my decision alone,” he was quoted as saying in Sinar Harian today.

“I think we have to look at developments one by one.”

Yesterday, Umno sacked Khairy Jamaluddin and Noh Omar – both veteran leaders – for allegedly working against the interests of the party.

At the same time, Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein and incumbent deputy Umno Youth chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan have been suspended for six years.

Also suspended were former Jempol MP Mohd Salim Shariff and former Tiram assemblyman Maulizan Bujang.

Rafizi also said the question of any of these Umno leaders applying to join PKR remained a speculation.

“For now, that matter does not arise. If it arises, PKR will definitely have to discuss it,” he said.

“As long as it does not arise, it will only be speculation.” – January 28, 2023.