PUTRAJAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's Registrar of Societies (RoS) has approved in principle the formation of former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin's new party, which will be known as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia or PPBM.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Home Minister, said the green light for the party was given on Thursday (Sept 8).

"However, the party cannot use the acronym 'Bersatu' but is to be known as PPBM," he announced after attending the Home Ministry's monthly gathering here.

This is because there are other six political parties and organisations that have the word "Bersatu" in their names, he added.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin, who is former Umno deputy president, filed an application to register PPBM last month.

Muhyiddin is the party president while former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is PPBM chairman.