Speaking to the media here today, Jeffrey said the difference now is that GBS no longer has Sabah Umno as part of its group.
“They will all remain as a group within GBS wherever they go. That is the understanding.
“However, Sabah Umno is not part of GBS and those who remain in Sabah Umno will not be part of GBS,” he said.
Jeffrey denied rumours that GBS is crumbling, insisting that the core leaders are in fact constantly in communication with each other.
“We meet all the time, at least twice a month. We have even set up special task forces for certain issues.
“We will remain as the opposition although we will be friendly to the federal government,” he said.
Jeffrey, who is also the president of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), said he understood the reason behind the decision by the nine assemblymen.
He said these leaders have realised that Sabah Umno is no longer wanted or supported in Sabah.
He said these leaders want to remain relevant and see the decision as a way for them to survive politically while looking after their constituencies.
Having been in Umno for so long, these leaders are looking for a similar environment and would probably be looking to join a national party, he added.
“They haven’t decided yet on this matter but I believe they will be heading in that direction,” he said.
Asked whether this meant that PPBM will soon enter Sabah, starting off with these former Umno leaders, Jeffrey said he was not certain yet but he believed this would likely happen next year.
He believed Sabahans can look forward to the return of the old political scenario where parties that are federal-friendly, such as Berjaya and Usno, were on opposing sides at the state level.
Jeffrey refused to commit whether Sabah PPBM would be a good move for the state but stated that the current Sabah government needs to be monitored closely.
“We fear the state government is going astray. They are focusing more on foreigners instead of placing priority on developing Sabah.
“Perhaps that is the task for PPBM and, at the same time, we need to have a central power.”
He said even the prime minister must have noticed something was not right in Sabah, which was why he would probably come in despite promising to stay away prior to the 14th general election.