The defections of the six assemblymen, led by Jeffrey Kitinggan, from opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) has been described as "a betrayal of the people's trust" by KeADILan vice president Tian Chua.

He called on them to resign their seats instead.

"Since the six defectors were elected as PBS candidates, they are morally obliged to resign and allow the people to decide the rightful representatives," Chua said in a statement to malaysiakini today.

The six had displayed a total lack of political integrity and will eventually be deserted by the people, he added.

Jeffrey led Johnny Goh Chin Lok (Inanam), Louis Rampas (Kiulu), Karim Adam (Kundasang), Edward Linggu (Tamparuli) and Atong Mangabis (Matunggong) into PBRS yesterday, giving six seats to BN component, PBRS, where previously it had none.

According to veteran journalist M.G.G. Pillai, the real losers are the party-hoppers themselves.

"The six of them will not get any cabinet post as such appopintments would make the loyal BN leaders angry," he stressed.

He believed that the defectors will not be re-elected in the next election as the voters will determine their fate by rejecting them.

The defections had made PBRS, a party headed by former Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Kurup the third largest of the nine-member Sabah BN in the state assembly, after Umno and United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Organisation.

In the March state elections last year, PBS obtained 17 seats against BN's 31 seats.

Pillai said that the defections were expected since "money is a powerful incentive".

He suggested that legislations should be amended to compel a by-election should any assemblyman defect from his original party.

He added that the federal government had ignored Joseph Pairin Ketinggan, PBS president and Jeffrey's elder brother, as the cultural and political leader for Kadazandusun, who will stand by Pairin.

Pillay stated that the polarised political set-up in Sabah is the main problem where even the PBS would find hard to come in power.

Prof. P. Ramasamy, of the political science department of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said that the defections were not surprising as the disease of hopping had been transmitted into PBS.

He pointed out that Jeffrey felt it was a futile game for PBS and himself to stay as opposition members.

Jeffrey was one of the founder leaders of PBRS formed when Pairin and the PBS government was forced to step down in March 1994 after several PBS Assemblymen (including Jeffrey) left the party to join BN.