SEREMBAN: Former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif hopes the Umno leadership will favourably consider his appeal following his suspension from the party.

Mohd Salim said he had submitted a second appeal to have his suspension lifted in April following the first one last year.

“I sincerely hope the party leadership will consider my appeals.

“Although I have been suspended, I have remained loyal to Umno and have been actively supporting members, especially in Jempol,” he said on Monday (June 10).

Mohd Salim said he had never once considered quitting the party ever since he was suspended.

“Umno has been my party from day one.

“Although there had been lots of talk previously that I would quit the party and join another, I have proven my loyalty to Umno,” he said.

Mohd Salim was suspended for six years, along with several others, by the party in January 2023 for breaching party discipline.

On Sunday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party had only received applications from two members to have their suspensions lifted.

Apart from Mohd Salim, the other application was from former Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

Umno’s supreme council had, on Nov 24 last year, unanimously decided to lift Tajuddin’s suspension, reinstating him as an Umno member, effective immediately.

Tajuddin’s membership was suspended for six years from Sept 2022 for criticising the party, including matters related to the timing of the 15th General Election (GE15).

Last week, Ahmad Zahid said the party’s supreme council will also look into a request by Sembrong Umno to lift the six-year suspension of former vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein after the party’s political bureau reviews the motion.

He said Hishamuddin had, however, yet to submit any appeal or apology over the matter.