Ruling party Umno today denied it was trying to thwart attempts by former premier Mahathir Mohamad to attend its key annual meeting as a delegate.

Mahathir, who is embroiled in a bitter dispute with the government, is to contest an Umno divisional election on Saturday which selects delegates to the party's November general assembly.

The 81-year-old ex-premier has accused Umno heads of trying to block his candidacy at the meeting, where he is expected to use the opportunity to criticise Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

However, Umno deputy president Najib Razak, also deputy prime minister, said the party had not moved to prevent Mahathir's attendance.

"There is no attempt by Umno to block him," Najib was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

Told not to contest

Mahathir has lambasted Abdullah and his administration in recent months, accusing the premier of nepotism, corruption and making unsound policy decisions.

The elder statesman, who has described himself as a "pariah" in the party he used to lead, earlier this week said Umno was trying to gag him because it is scared of what he has to say.

Umno members, concerned about party rifts because of the dispute, have pleaded with Mahathir not to contest the election in his home state of Kedah.