Former minister Zaid Ibrahim finds it strange that Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz is “getting so excited” over his claim that the latter was involved in an alleged plot to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Zaid was responding to Nazri who challenged him to reveal his source which had implicated him in the plot, allegedly masterminded in Milan.

“Why should I reveal my source? I don’t owe him, (don’t have) any obligation to reveal my source.

“If it’s not true just say (that it’s) not true, why is he getting so excited?” Zaid told Malaysiakini .

“Tell him I’m smarter than that to reveal my source.”

Based on information relayed to him by a source, Zaid had said that Nazri met with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin in the Italian city.

However, Nazri had denied this , saying Najib was aware of his whereabouts because his trip to Dubai and Milan was sanctioned by the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Zaid also responded to Nazri who had described him as the “most failed politician of the century” as he had failed to make the cut in both Umno and PKR.

“People can judge who is better, me or Nazri. That’s all I want to say,” he said.

The former minister has been a vocal critic of Najib and expressed support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad with regard to his quest to remove the prime minister.

Among others, Zaid had accused Najib of behaving like an emperor and likened him to France’s King Louis XIV.