Nearly 60 percent of Umno branches in Kedah's Kubang Pasu division have nominated former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to contest to be a delegate for this November's Umno annual general assembly.

According to a Kubang Pasu Umno committee member, Mahathir and his son, Mukhriz, are currently the hot favourites in the division's Sept 9 election.

He said 79 out of the 136 branches in the division have nominated Mahathir, who helmed Umno and the country for 22 years.

The committee member, who declined to be named, said this information was based on the list of candidates submitted to the division's secretariat.

A total of 17 candidates - including Mahathir and Mukhriz ( right ) - have confirmed their decision to contest.

Each division will send 13 delegates, of which seven are chosen during the division meet to be held in two weeks. These delegates are known as G7.

The remaining delegates, or G6, are automatically selected by virtue of their posts in the division. These include the division chief, deputy chief, secretary as well as the Wanita, Youth and Puteri heads.

"Up to now, Mahathir and Mukhriz are the favourites in the contest which will be decided at the Kubang Pasu meeting on Sept 9," said the committee member.

Mahathir, who hails from Kedah, was the former Kubang Pasu Umno division chief and parliamentarian.

Causing uneasiness

Meanwhile, Kubang Pasu Umno Wanita chief Badrishah Saat said she would leave the matter to the members.

However, she said Mahathir's decision to contest has created some uneasiness among the delegates who will attend the division meet.

Kubang Pasu secretary Samsuddin Ahmad said not all the branches have agreed with the former premier's decision.

Personally, he said it would not be right for Mahathir to be a delegate for the Nov 13-17 Umno meet given his position as former premier and the party's former president.

"Even if he is chosen (as a delegate), it does not mean he can speak at the general assembly as the (Kedah) state liaison committee is the one which will decide who can speak," he added.

Mahathir has taken this drastic measure after repeatedly accusing the Umno leadership of preventing him from meeting party members. However, Umno leaders have denied this.

The former premier has been on a rampage against his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who took over the reins in 2003, over several issues.