Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has launched a broadside against former minister Zaid Ibrahim, who alleged that a plot was being hatched to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

According to Sin Chew Daily, Nazri described Zaid as the “most failed politician of the century”.

The former law minister had implicated Nazri in the alleged plot, which he claimed was masterminded in Milan.

Based on information relayed to him by a source, he said 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 were sanctioned by the cabinet.

"I only met Muhyiddin at a function (in Milan) because a dance troupe from Istana Budaya was performing," he had told Malaysiakini.

Meanwhile, in the Sin Chew Daily report, Nazri challenged Zaid to reveal his source.

He also said Zaid had failed to make the cut in both Umno and PKR.

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.