Newly appointed Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz has expressed gratitude for the party’s acceptance of a former Umno leader such as himself, calling it evidence of Bersatu’s inclusivity.

In his closing speech at the Bersatu annual general assembly, Tun Faisal said that he was thankful to the party’s Federal Territories chief, Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, for not only accepting him but also making him the Federal Territories information chief.

“I am an Umno man who was suspended and expelled from Umno because I opposed the Umno president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi).

“And I am thankful for his (Radzi) openness, his big heart… he picked me up and took me in, put me not only in the Putrajaya division but the Federal Territories leadership body,” Tun Faisal said.

In March 2021, the former Special Affairs Department director was suspended from Umno for six years for breach of party discipline.

It was reported at the time that Putrajaya Umno chief Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had allegedly orchestrated the disciplinary report against Tun Faisal - who was his deputy - ostensibly for criticising Zahid.

Tun Faisal was sacked in February 2023, allegedly for violating Umno's code of ethics.

It made him the 10th Umno member from the Putrajaya division that the party had given the boot over alleged disciplinary issues.