Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has brushed off claims that houses in Padang Rengas constituency, which he leads, looked a little worn.

"My constituency is just like his (Dr Mahathir Mohamad's former) constituency in Kubang Pasu. In the rural area, there are no tall buildings.

"I am not mad to build a 30-storey building in Padang Rengas, it is just a village. I'm not mad yet," Mohamed Nazri said when Malaysiakini contacted him today.

Yesterday, Mahathir, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson, paid a visit to Padang Rengas and remarked that the area did not look like one that was under the care of a cabinet minister.

Mohamed Nazri said although Padang Rengas does not look polished, the town hosts many things that are beneficial to the rural folk, such as a Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) and a link to the North-South Expressway.

'We prefer landed homes'

He said that it was he who managed secure funding from Putrajaya to build more roads in the constituency.

"If he (Mahathir) expects me to have a few high-rise buildings, I am not mad yet to do that.

"Because all our people, be it Chinese, Indians, Malays, we are all staying on the ground.

"We don't have the culture of living in high-rise buildings (in Padang Rengas)," he said.

Nazri had previously challenged Mahathir to contest in Padang Rengas after he found out the former prime minister was paying a visit to his constituency yesterday.

After a protracted back-and-forth between the duo, they agreed to hold a debate in Kuala Kangsar yesterday. However, the police stopped them from doing so.

The duo still met for a bowl of cendol in Kuala Kangsar yesterday.