Deputy Foreign Minister Joseph Salang said he is not involved in the reported formation of a new Dayak-based party in Sarawak.

"Speaking for myself, I am not involved. I believe my four colleagues are not involved too," he told Bernama today.

He was asked to comment on the proposed new party, tentatively known as Sarawak Dayak Congress, which a group of Dayak professionals and some former Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) members were reported to be trying to set up. Salang is former treasurer of the party.

The group said the party was to fill the void left by PBDS when it was de-registered in October last year for the second and final time.

Salang, the Julau MP, and four other elected leaders - Lubok Antu and Kanowit Members of Parliament Jawah Gerang and Aaron Dagang respectively and Belaga and Ngemah state assemblypersons Stanley Ajang Batok and Gabriel Adit Demong - have since then remained party-less.

They have applied to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu headed by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud who appears to be reluctant to take them in.

Democratic right

Taib is said to be behind the other PBDS faction led by Dr James Masing. The group formed Parti Rakyat Sarawak which was subsequently welcomed by other Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.

Masing remains a member of Taib's Cabinet.

On the new party, Salang said it was the democratic right of the group to do what it wanted, especially if its members had a clear conscience and conviction on its direction, role and objective.

"A far as I am concerned, I am a BN representaive. I stood and won on the BN ticket and I will retire as a BN representative," he said.