PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) A new political party is in the making, but despite speculation saying otherwise, Datuk Seri Nazir Razak will not be involved, said a source close to the CIMB group chairman.

A news report said that Mr Nazir, who is also Prime Minister Najib Razak's brother, has been meeting business leaders in Britain and Kuala Lumpur to discuss the setting up a new non-partisan party.

The report also said that Mr Nazir approached Global Movement of Moderates chief Saifuddin Abdullah to become the public face of the party.

The report also said that despite being respected as a moderate, Datuk Saifuddin lacked the clout needed to attract support and Mr Nazir had to be the prime mover or it would not work.

Attempts to contact both Mr Nazir and Mr Saifuddin were unsuccessful.

The report comes amid strained relations in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, with a widening rift between Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

On Tuesday, the DAP said that the coalition had ceased to exist, saying the motion by the PAS muktamar to sever ties with the DAP had effectively ended the coalition.