Khairy was offered membership, Supreme Council spot in Bersatu, says Muhyiddin

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin today revealed that he had invited former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin to join Bersatu after the latter's dismissal from Umno.

Muhyiddin said that although Khairy had yet to respond, the offer remained open.

"Khairy met me a long time ago after his dismissal. We discussed his direction and our party's expectations," he said on Khairy's presence at a recent Aidilfitri open house event organised by the former prime minister.

Khairy, the former MP for Rembau, was expelled from Umno along with the party's Tanjung Karang division chief, Noh Omar, after the 15th general election (GE15), over allegations of having sabotaged the party during the election campaign in November.

Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein was also suspended from the party.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, prior to GE15, had also withdrawn the candidacy of several other leaders including Arau MP Shahidan Kassim and former Ketereh MP Annuar Musa.

Khairy meanwhile was shifted from his seat in Rembau to make way for Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

He was instead fielded in Sungai Buloh, and lost the election race to PKR's Ramanan Ramakrishnan.

Khairy has yet to join any political party since his sacking from Umno. He is currently active in the "Keluar Sekejap" podcast with former Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, who was also suspended from the party. 

Muhyiddin said Khairy had not asked for any position, but that he offered the former Umno Youth leader a spot on Bersatu's Supreme Council.

"I think he understands that the state elections are approaching. The timeframe is limited, so if Khairy wants to consider, this is his opportunity," he said.

Muhyiddin said that Bersatu hoped Khairy could help strengthen the party.

"Everyone knows what happened to Umno; it is almost completely destroyed. Umno's office has become DAP's nest. This has crushed the hopes of some Umno members," he said.