Khir, who was in the Supreme Council from 2000 to 2008, was among the prominent names in a list of contenders eyeing leadership posts at the Umno elections.

The list was shared by Umno information chief Isham Jalil, who is also seeking to be elected to the Supreme Council. Isham was previously appointed to the council.

Khir, a former three-term Sungai Panjang assemblyman, was jailed for a year over power abuse in 2015 and was released on parole after serving six months.

He had attempted to make a political comeback in the November general election by declaring his intention to contest the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat.

Umno subsequently gave the seat to Jamal Yunos who is also eyeing a place in the council.

International trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz and foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir are also among the 95 hopefuls eyeing for a seat in the council.

Zambry had recently withdrawn from the race for the vice-presidency, saying he wanted to focus on his ministerial duties and his role as the Barisan Nasional secretary-general.

Former federal ministers, including Zaid Ibrahim, Rahman Dahlan and Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim have also thrown their hats into the ring.

Others gunning for a seat include former Sabah deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin and former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said.

Meanwhile, eight candidates are vying for the three vice-presidency posts.

They are Johari Ghani, Azalina Othman Said, Mahdzir Khalid, Yusof Musa Jamaludin, Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Khaled Nordin and Hasni Mohammad.

The elections for Wanita, Youth and Puteri leadership posts will be held on March 11, while polling for division officials, vice-presidents, and members of the Supreme Council will be on March 18.