Umno Kelantan members and the people in the state will not bow to the pressure from the federal government and the party headquarters.

This was the message from the Umno veterans club, which is now organising the disputed function with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the state.

The function was initially supposed to be organised by the Kelantan branch of the ex-elected representatives association (Mubarak). However, it pulled out due to the current political climate.

According to an Umno veterans club spokesperson, Mahathir is expected to arrive at the Sultan Ismail Petra airport at 11am on July 28.

"Nobody has the right to forbid us from organising the function. It is a function to explain to the people. What is wrong in letting the people hear the explanations of its leaders.

"Over the last weekend, (Foreign Minister) Syed Hamid Albar came to explain to Umno Kelantan, so what's wrong if Mahathir is also given the chance to state his opinions," said the spokesperson, who declined to be named.

He added that the club was going ahead with the function despite receiving objections from certain state Umno leaders.

800 people expected to attend

Mahathir will be explaining the issues he had raised with the current administration to party members and professionals.

"We have also invited the members of the Umno Kelantan state liaison committee to the function. Invitations have already been sent out," said the spokesperson.

Previously, Umno Kelantan is said to have told Mubarak to cancel the function following the falling out between Mahathir and his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration.

The party's state liaison committee chairperson Anuar Musa is said to have told Mubarak that the Umno top brass in Kuala Lumpur wanted the function cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Umno veterans club spokesperson said the function will be held at Hotel Perdana at 3pm and some 800 people are expected to attend.

"At night, Mahathir is expected to attend another function themed 'perjuangan belum selesai' (the struggle has yet to end) at Hotel Grand Riverview which is being organised by the Kelantan people's action committee," he added.

Mahathir has been crossing swords with the current administration over the decision to scrap the half-bridge project, decisions pertaining to national car manufacturer Proton and the issuance of Approved Permits.