Former Home Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Din has decided to rejoin the group of 25 eminent Malays.

This was revealed via a mobile text message from group member Noor Farida Ariffin sighted by Malaysiakini .

"The Group of 25 would like to announce that Tan Sri Rahim Din has not withdrawn support from the group and has rejoined them after a 'brief sabbatical'.

"He would like to reiterate that he supports the open letter and all the points therein," read the message.

Abdul Rahim ( left ) was earlier reported as having quit the group out of disappointment with the direction that it has taken.

His son-in-law Azmi Arshad posted in his Facebook account that Abdul Rahim had sent a short letter to the rest of the group informing them of his decision.

"Now that our letter has been sent to the PM, I consider that I have accomplished my mission in rendering my support to the G25.

"I do not wish to be involved in the group debating the issues outside the ambit of the panel of experts to be formed by PM, if ever it is formed. Mere debate will lead us nowhere.

"However, you are at liberty to continue interacting with any party you deem fit," the letter stated.

"I wish therefore to have my name deleted and withdraw myself from the group and its deliberations. I sincerely wish you all well in your endeavour," it added.

Azmi also posted what he claimed to be the original handwritten letter Abdul Rahim had intended for the group, before he chose to just pull out.

In the handwritten draft, Abdul Rahim said the group's "only task" was supposed to be urging the PM to set up a gathering of experts to resolve issues highlighted in the open letter.

"Literally we have nothing else to do but to wait for PM’s response. If he acts on our request, we have done our job.

"What transpires of the panel of experts deliberations is another matter. If he doesn't, are we to be blamed?" it read.

'Spinning out of control'

Abdul Rahim said he did not want the group to "complicate" matters by engaging in dialogues with "other parties".

"We are merely 25 'renowned' and 'brave' ex-civil servants, but are we the experts? Besides, this is not the mandate spelt out in the letter," he added.

Abdul Rahim said he was "cautioning" as such because the group has been "spinning out of control" of late.

His withdrawal was later confirmed by one of the members, former Foreign Ministry secretary-general Ahmad Kamil Jaafar, in a text message to Malaysiakini .

The group of 25 rose to fame after sending a strongly worded open letter to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Dec 7.

It called for a dialogue on the implementation of syariah law in the country.

It also spoke out against religious extremism in the country.

The group consists of former top judges and top civil servants, along with other prominent personalities.