Former Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is also the MP for Masjid Tanah, has joined Bersatu.

In a statement on Facebook this morning, she said her decision was based on the interests of her voters.

“Insya-Allah (God willing), I hope to help Bersatu's efforts as a component party of the government to implement the agenda for women and to ... champion the welfare of youths,” she added.

Mas Ermieyati, who quit Umno in July, also posted a photograph of her submitting her membership form to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Bersatu chairperson.

Mas Ermieyati had announced her resignation from Umno on July 1, citing her disappointment with the results of the just-concluded party polls.

The two-term lawmaker had accused Umno of being "in denial", choosing to believe that the public's hatred had only been towards former president Najib Abdul Razak and the 1MDB scandal, and not Umno as a whole.

She had, however, at the time pledged to serve as an Independent and to keep the Harapan government in check.

Her inclusion into Bersatu now brings the party's tall of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat to 16, up three from the number of lawmakers it had just after the 14th general election in May.

Puteri Umno: 'Don't criticise her'

Aside Mas Ermieyati, the other MPs to have since jumped to Bersatu include former Umno supreme council member and Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed, as well as Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali.

Meanwhile, Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman welcomed the new recruit.

The Youth and Sports Minister tweeted: "Welcome to the family. Even though we once had many differences of opinion, I have always felt that (Yang Berhormat) YB was one of the best YBs from BN.

"Looking forward to working with you."

When questioned on the latest development, Umno Puteri exco Natassia Roslan said the wing respected Mas Ermieyati's decision, as the former believed the step was taken with the people's best interest at heart.

As such, Natassia said the people should not criticise the former Umno Puteri chief.