As a former Umno president, it would not be 'nice' for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to sit with the delegates at the general assembly, said Wanita Umno chief Rafidah Aziz today.

According to her, it would be more appropriate if Mahathir sat together with the VIPs as there is a special seat given to him in keeping with his status.

"The way Wanita Umno sees it, it's not nice for an ex-president who is given a special seat at the assembly (to sit with the delegates).

"Normally, the former presidents are invited as special observers, that's what we normally do, that's our tradition," she was quoted as saying by Bernama.

She was asked to comment on Mahathir's intention to contest to be a Kubang Pasu Umno division delegate to this November's general assembly.

However, Rafidah said the decision was up to Mahathir. "Secondly, it is up to the Kubang Pasu Umno division to decide on the matter," she added.

AP issue

The veteran politician was among those who were severely criticised by Mahathir in his attacks against the current administration.

The former premier had questioned the discrepancies in the issuance of Approved Permits (AP) which falls under Rafidah's Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

Recently, Mahathir said his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should not have appointed Rafidah into his cabinet.

Mahathir, who announced his intention to be a delegate for Kubang Pasu on Aug 23, has received 15 nominations and is among 17 candidates vying for the seven delegates' seats.

His position will be decided by 493 delegates from 143 branches who are attending the division's meeting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Rafidah said that as of June this year, Wanita Umno had 1.335 million members including over 10,000 new members registered in the last six months.

She said that besides the membership drive and efforts to strengthen the movement, the meeting also discussed efforts to explain the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the initiatives in the 2007 budget to the people.