Barisan Nasional (BN) has kept its two-thirds majority in the Sarawak state assembly and could win up to 51 seats, say coalition sources.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties DAP and PKR won some seats but PAS has lost in all five constituencies it contested.
“We won and can get up to 51 seats,” a BN source told The Malaysian Insider.
The result will come as a relief to the ruling coalition which scrambled at the tail-end of the campaign to ensure victory despite Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud being the main PR campaign fodder.
Abdul Taib is awaiting confirmation that he has retained his Balingian seat while Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian has been confirmed as the new Ba’Kelalan assemblyman.
PR has touted Baru as the state chief minister should the opposition coalition win the election.
In a major upset, unofficial results show BN’s SUPP chief Tan Sri George Chan has lost Piasau to DAP's Ling Sie Kiong.
Official results put BN in the lead by 22 seats to PR's three at 8.15pm.
DAP is said to have won between 10 to 13 seats, delivering the lion’s share of PR’s victories.
"Future is bright for Pakatan in Sarawak. I don't think BN leadership will dare to call for GE in next few months," DAP national chairman Karpal Singh told reporters here.
