Umno members have been advised to show their loyalty to, and support for, party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the party annual general meeting (AGM) from Nov 13.

Information chief Muhammad Muhd Taib said the AGM would be the best forum for members to express undivided support for Abdullah, who is also the prime minister.

He said that, while the party is powerless to stop former president and ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad from criticising Abdullah, a strong show of support would give the latter confidence and encouragement to discharge his responsibilities.

"We want to ask Mahathir to stop criticising (Abdullah but) I don't think we are able to do that. More importantly, the members must show they are solidly behind the government," the former Selangor menteri besar was quoted as saying by Bernama today.

He also said the party welcomes Mahathir's attendance at the five-day general assembly.

To a question if this would create a commotion, Muhammad said members are mature as they have gone through more serious crises and incidents within the party.

He said such maturity was revealed in the manner the Kubang Pasu Umno division did not elect Mahathir as a delegate to the assembly.

Muhammad said the division members had done this because they did not want the "Umno family to be shaken".

"Although they know Mahathir is an outstanding politician in Malaysia, Asia and in the world, they said 'no, this is not the place for you'. We love Tun, we support Tun, but (he shouldn't) become a delegate," he added.

Embarrassing defeat

On Sept 11 at the Kubang Pasu delegates' contest , Mahathir was returned ninth among the 15 candidates with 227 votes. The division will send the top seven elected candidates to the annual meet, while another six will represent it by virtue of the posts they hold.

The defeat was especially embarrassing for Mahathir as he had led the division for more than three decades until his retirement in 2003.

Mahathir, who helmed Umno and the country for 22 years, has since complained that delegates received RM200 to vote against him. The Umno leadership has denied any wrongdoing.

Recently renewed attacks by Mahathir on Abdullah's alleged economic mismanagement, corruption and nepotism have seen many party leaders calling for Mahathir to be expelled .

Yesterday, though, Muhammad said the party has not come to a stage where it would take disciplinary action, as Mahathir has some "immunity".