The anti-Dr Mahathir Mohamad faction is said to have thrust its campaign into overdrive as the clock ticks down for tomorrow's Kubang Pasu Umno division meet.

Sources from the division said among the 'dirty tactics' employed was to 'exploit' the influence of former Kedah menteri besar Osman Aroff to ensure that Mahathir did not succeed.

They claimed that Osman ( right ) would accompany current Menteri Besar Mahadzir Khalid, who was the former political secretary to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, to officiate the division meet.

Sources said this was being done to show delegates that even Osman - a 'Mahathir strongman and good friend' - did not support him.

Mahathir, who headed the Kubang Pasu division for 30 years, is contesting to be one of the seven delegates to represent the division at this November's Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir, who helmed Umno and the nation for 22 years, was also the former Kubang Pasu parliamentarian until his retirement in 2003.

A total of 17 candidates, including Mahathir's son Mukhriz, are contesting tomorrow. Their fates would be decided by 493 delegates from 138 branches in the division.

Meanwhile, sources said the anti-Mahathir faction was hoping that Osman's presence would sway the contest.

After resigning as menteri besar, Osman had served as Mahathir's personal representative for the Kubang Pasu parliamentary constituency.

Sources said the Kubang Pasu Umno member still wielded a strong influence among the grassroots in the division and numerous branch leaders were his supporters.

"They want to use Osman's influence to garner sympathy and votes from his supporters who are also strong supporters of Mahathir," added the sources.

Branch leaders warned

A source close to Mukhriz told malaysiakini that the anti-Mahathir faction was also allegedly using high-ranking officers from the waterworks department (JBA), public works department (PWD) and the Tekun Malaysia Foundation to exert pressure on branch leaders who supported Mahathir.

According to the source, a branch leader who worked with JBA was told by his superior 'not to leave the house' throughout the campaign period.

"A branch Youth wing chief, who is a delegate to the division meet tomorrow and strong supporter of Mahathir, was also told by his superior not to be 'active' in the polls," he said.

"Even top officers from Tekun Malaysia based in Kuala Lumpur had gone to Kubang Pasu to warn a branch leader who worked with the foundation," he added.

Apart from this, he claimed that teachers who were members of Umno branches and would be delegates for tomorrow's meet had their leaves cancelled. (Saturday is a working day in Kedah).

Driven by desperation

The source also alleged that officials from the Home Ministry and Biro Tatanegara as well as university students and members of youth organisations have been camping in Kubang Pasu since last week.

"They are seen entering and exiting the kampungs in the area and this is apparent whenever a pro-Mukhriz faction is visiting a particular kampung," he said.

The source also described the tactics used by the anti-Mahathir faction as unethical while their large-scale dinners could even be classified as money politics.

"Last night, a group of branch leaders were called to attend a briefing on 'current issues' by a government agency but it turned out to be a campaign to reject Mahathir," he said.

The source also alleged that several Umno Kubang Pasu members bumped into a 'few strongmen' from the party headquarters having a meeting with the permanent chairperson for the division's meeting at a hotel in Alor Star several days ago.

According to him, the anti-Mahathir faction was resorting to underhand tactics because they were desperate after seeing the former premier's influence in Kubang Pasu.

He said the special press conference called by division head Mohd Johari Bahrum yesterday proved that efforts to sideline Mahathir do not have the support of the division members.

Only 20 committee members and branch leaders had attended the meeting, noted the source.

"We understand the division secretariat invited all 138 branch leaders and committee members to the press conference, which was called to make final appeal on Mahathir not to contest.

"However, their effort clearly failed," he said.

SMS smear campaign

Meanwhile, the source also claimed that a smear campaign against Mahathir and Mukhriz ( left ) was being waged via the short messaging system or SMS.

Among the SMS being sent to the delegates are, ' Mukhriz dah kaya raya, mengapa nak bising-bising ?' (Mukhriz is already rich, why is he still making noise?), ' Adakah Tun bertanding kerana anak-anaknya dah tak dapat projek ' (Is Mahathir contesting because his children did not get projects) and ' Waktu Kubang Pasu dilanda banjir, mengapa Mukhriz tak turun ' (When Kubang Pasu was flooded, why didn't Mukhriz come).

In a related development, an Umno veteran, who declined to be named, told malaysiakini that he was saddened by the current situation.

"We are fighting among ourselves when it is only an election to choose delegates to the general assembly. Why so eager to defeat Tun (Mahathir)?" he said.

He pointed out that a statesman who was willing to be an ordinary delegate should be praised and not ridiculed.