The Member of Parliament Padang Rengas Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today threw a challenge to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to contest in his constituency in the 14th General Election (GE14).

Nazri, who is also Tourism and Culture Minister decided to challenge the former prime minister after being informed that Dr Mahathir would be in Padang Rengas to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) tour series later this month.

He said if Dr Mahathir refused to take up the challenge, then it would be opened to PPBM President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"I understand that Muhyiddin would come here on March 23 and followed by Dr Mahathir on March 25. The visits symbolise how great I am as a politician because they feel the need to come here to beat me so it would be easier to bring down UMNO.

"I want to say welcome to them but do not just come ... they must also contest in Padang Rengas in the upcoming election, better if Mahathir to contest but if he can't then let Muhyiddin contest as my opponent," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the Leader Meets with Single Mothers Association of Padang Rengas Parliamentary constituency session at Dewan Pusat Khidmat Kampung Kubang Panjang here today.

When asked on Dr Mahathir who was still trying to link the issue of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in PPBM tour series, Mohamed Nazri, who is also UMNO Supreme Council member described it as an act of desperation.

"This has been repeated because he (Dr Mahathir) wanted to use the psychology to keep the issue alive, when in fact the issue is already dead," he said.

-- BERNAMA