The support among the grassroots for Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) information chief James Masing and vice-president Sng Chee Hua to run for the posts of president and deputy president respectively is growing louder, according to a Kuching-based English daily today.

In its front-page report, the Sarawak Tribune said this comes less than 24 hours after 22 branches in Sibu initiated the Masing-Sng line-up for the top posts.

The daily added another 24 branches in Lundu yesterday expressed a similar stand at their joint annual general meeting (AGM).

The report, which had no by-line and did not quote any source, said "In the next few weeks, such expression of support is expected to be the order of the day, with the next o­ne (AGM) in Sri Aman, scheduled to be held o­n March 2."

The Dayak-based party - which Masing hopes will have a more multi-racial outlook - directed all its branches to hold their annual meet by March 31, prior to the party'sTriennial Delegates Conference (TDC), scheduled for September.

Based o­n statistics obtained during the last TDC, there are 206 PBDS branches statewide.