Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has challenged former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to an election showdown in Padang Rengas, Perak.

That is, Nazri said, if Mahathir is afraid of fighting against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Pekan, Pahang.

"Don't talk too much. You (Mahathir) know how to bring him (Najib) down, go and fight him in Pekan.

"Or, if you don't want to fight, fight me in Padang Rengas," Nazri said, with a laugh.

He said this to reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Mahathir is on a warpath to oust Najib, accusing him of corruption and destroying the country.

However, Najib has refused to budge, and analysts say that his position is too secure for Mahathir to assail on his own.