Parti Bersatu Sabah Youth chief Jake Jikulin Nointin and several followers have quit the party, citing a loss of confidence in the party's leadership.

According to Borneo Post, Nointin said he appreciated PBS' struggle but the current leadership has lost its sense of direction.

"The current leadership seems no longer focused on its core principles and original aims, and it's because of this we have decided to leave the party," he told reporters at his home in Keningau today.

According to Star Online, he has no immediate plans to join any other party. Malaysiakini understands that he has received overtures from opposition parties.

Nointin is a PBS supreme council member and was the party's Liawan division chief.

He was supposed to host a press conference on "political direction" today, but several news reports indicated that the session was very short.