KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 23 -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged all Sabahans to reject parties that are trying to come into power through the "backdoor".

Dr Mahathir said if it was not for the fact that the federal government is trying to "steal" the state, Sabah would not have to face elections.

"This state election should not be taking place because the people of Sabah picked the state government that they wanted during the 14th general election in 2018.

"Not only is this move wrong, it has also taken away the right of the Sabah people to choose their state government and this goes against democracy," he can be heard saying in a video clip released tonight.

The clip is part of his campaign material for Parti Warisa...