Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) information chief Dr James Jemut Masing today formally announced he would contest for the party's president post, setting the stage for a bruising battle for the leadership in the predominantly Dayak party.

Masing made the announcement before a packed press conference at Kuching Hilton this morning after, according to him, 117 of the party's 206 branches had endorsed him as their choice for president to succeed Leo Moggie ( photo ).

Moggie has announced that he would be quitting after 20 years at the helm at the forthcoming triennial delegates conference (TDC).