The highly anticipated four-eye meeting between Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected take place this Sunday at the Umno headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

This is based on a suggestion made by Mubarak, a committee of former BN elected representatives, which had been in deep negotiation with Mahathir and Abdullah's representatives as early as Sept 6.

One of Mubarak's chief negotiators, Othman Abdul ( left ) - former Pendang MP - said Mahathir has agreed to the date and venue of the private meeting. The group is now awaiting confirmation from the prime minister.

"Pak Lah told us (Mubarak) that he would confirm the meeting through his representative, Mokhzani Mahathir," he said when contacted by malaysiakini today.

According to Othman, Mubarak had suggested the date for the meeting to representatives from both sides during the Oct 2 negotiation.

Mahathir was represented by Kedah exco and former Utusan Melayu Group chairperson Khalid Abdullah, while Abdullah was represented by Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and interestingly Mahathir's son, Mokhzani ( right ).

Othman was one of three chief Mubarak members involved in the negotiations. The other representatives are former Kuala Pilah parliamentarian and Mubarak acting president Abu Zahar Ujang and ex-minister Zaleha Ismail.

Time up to PM

Othman said the meeting would be almost certainly go ahead once it receives approval from the prime minister.

He was however, uncertain as to the exact time, which Othman said was Abdullah's prerogative.

Mubarak has been described as the prime driving force behind negotiations for a meeting between Mahathir and Pak Lah.

Othman said its main preoccupation was to "avert any possible fallout that is beyond recovery" after the PM received heavy public criticisms and attacks from Mahathir.

He revealed that Mubarak's representatives first met up with Khalid on Sept 6 in Petaling Jaya to discuss possible mediation.

This was followed by a second meeting involving Khalid, Radzi and Mokhzani and the three Mubarak representatives that was held at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya on Oct 2.

In the meeting, Mubarak mooted two conditions whereby Mahathir was accorded the right to speak at the Umno supreme council while the second requires the former premier to be officially invited to speak with Umno ministers.

Othman said Radzi had taken the requests to Abdullah who then agreed to meet with Mahathir.

The prime minister however rejected a request that Mahathir brings along a witness to the meeting.