PUTRAJAYA, Sept 12 — Many former Umno members are actually begging to return to the party, secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today.

Tengku Adnan was responding to a claim by former Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir that several Umno division leaders from his state are planning to quit the party.

"He (Mukhriz) said people are leaving, but those who were sacked also want to come back (to Umno),” he told reporters at a press conference today. 

Malay Mail Online was not present but was able to obtain a transcript of the news conference. "There are a lot who have asked and pleaded (come back to Umno). There are a lot, maybe next time I will give a list of those who pleaded and said that action was taken unfairly against them,” Tengku Adnan said.

Commenting on former Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s expulsion, Tengku Adnan said the case was handled according to proper procedure unlike the latter’s claim.

"Muhyiddin said we didn’t follow procedure, but actually we did because the Supreme Council has the power other than the disciplinary board.

"The disciplinary board asked the Supreme Council because this is a high profile case. They asked the Supreme Council to decide so we decided but he got angry.

"And now he formed a new party because of vengeance. Don’t lah, please. I would like to advise. Look at me lah. I’ve been in, out, in, out. I never go against the party,” he stressed.

Tengku Adnan, who is better known as Kunan, also reminded individuals to not put personal interest above the importance of the party. 

"I never got angry because to me, the party’s fight is more important, not the individual. This is what we should understand. When we join a party and we want to put ourselves first, this becomes the problem,” he said.

Mukhriz, Muhyiddin and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad have all left Umno and gone on to form a new political party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

The new party claims to fight for Bumiputera rights and is against the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. It plans to contest against Umno in the next general elections.