The leader of the rival faction in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Dr James Masing, has denied any knowledge of any move by his group to form a new political party.

"I am not aware of it," he told malaysiakini today when asked to comment on rumours of a new political party being formed by his group.

One name said to have been proposed for the new party is Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (PBRS), the same acronym for its Sabah counterpart led by Sabah state minister Joseph Kurup.