KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin should return to the Umno fold if he truly loves the party, says Dr Mohamad Akmal Saleh.

"I was listening to Khairy on the radio on Friday night (June 9) who said he still loves Umno.

"This means there is still hope for Khairy to be with Umno," the Umno Youth chief said at a press conference during the Umno general assembly here on Saturday (June 10).

Khairy, who once helmed Umno Youth, was sacked by the party on Jan 27.

He has since been hired as a deejay by local radio station Hot FM.

In May, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin offered Khairy a supreme council post if he chose to join the party.

Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu also advised Khairy not to take too long to decide.

In his latest episode of his "Keluar Sekejap" podcast, Khairy said that he would meet Muhyiddin next week to discuss the possibility of joining the party.

Earlier this week, the former Rembau MP had also said he was thinking about forming his own political party.

Meanwhile, Dr Akmal said the invitation by Umno Youth was open to all those who love Umno, including those who were suspended or sacked.

"As I had said in my policy speech, Umno is at its lowest point.

"Now is the time for those who love Umno to sit down at the same table and unite," he said.

He added these individuals could help Umno from within or outside the party as long as they shared the same party principles.

Besides Khairy, Dr Akmal also mentioned suspended former Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman among those "who still loved the party".

In October last year, Tajuddin was suspended by Umno for six years and he has since submitted three letters of appeal against his suspension.