Sabah deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan has taken a shot at former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying the latter would stop at nothing to end his enemies.

According to New Straits Times today, Kitingan said Mahathir's move to form a new party was not surprising as he is unhappy with Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The English daily reported him calling Mahathir "a 'political animal' who would stop at nothing to dislodge anyone he dislikes".

“Once he makes up his mind he does not like a person, just like how he did not like me, he would go all out to dislodge that person.

"He tried to do that with me,” Pairin was reported saying after a courtesy call from the Kadazandusun Cultural Association Youth Council yesterday.

Pairin as the Parti Bersatu Sabah party president has had a long and uneasy relationship with the former PM, having led his party in and out of BN.

Commenting on Mahathir's new party, Pairin was reported saying the result "remains to be seen" but it was Mahathir's right.

"“In the final analysis, the people have to make the decision. It cannot be otherwise. We cannot change it.

"If the people say this, then that is the decision just like Brexit.

"There is no referendum after that, for better for worse, you make the decision,” he was reported saying.

Mahathir, who has been at the forefront calling for Najib's resignation, has announced intentions to form a new party, which will work with the opposition.

Today, sacked Umno deputy Muhyiddin Yassin expressed support for the initiative, and called for the opposition to close ranks to unseat BN.