Saturday, April 16, 2011

LATEST POLLS AT 8.54PM

BN retains two-thirds majority, could win up to 51 seats

UPDATED @ 08:54:38 PM 16-04-2011
April 16, 2011

KUCHING, April 16 — 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. As of 8.40pm, BN won 36 seats officially for a simple majority in the state legislature while PR took eight seats at 8.40pm

The biggest upset was SUPP chairman and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri George Chan Hong Nam losing the Piasau state seat to DAP's Ling Sie Kiong.

“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.

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.

fROM The malaysian Insider

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