BN Clinches Simple Majority

KUCHING, April 16 (Bernama) — The Barisan Nasional clinched a simple majority of 36 out of the 71 seats at stake in the 10th Sarawak state election here as of 9pm.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is the state BN chairman, retained his Balingian seat with a majority of 5,154 votes in a three-cornered fight against his second cousin standing as an Independent, Datuk Salleh Jafaruddin, who obtained 1,056, and the challenger from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Suriati Abdullah, who polled 871.

Two other BN component party leaders, Datuk Seri Dr James Masing of Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Datuk Seri William Mawan of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party also emerged victorious in their strongholds of Baleh and Pakan rspectively.

Dr Masing beat PKR’s Bendindang ak Manjah in a straight fight, polling 5,242 votes to win with a 3,898 majority.

In Pakan, William Mawan garnered 3,938 votes to oust Jamal Abdullah @ Tedong ak Gunda from Sarawak National Pary by a 1,197 margin.

However, the BN suffered a setback in the Piasau seat in Miri where Sarawak United People’s Party president Tan Sri Dr George Chan, was defeated in a straight fight by DAP newcomer Ling Sie Kiong.

Dr Chan polled 4,408 votes while his opponent had 5,998.

In the opposition, PKR has three seats in the bag, Ba’Kelalan, Batu Lintang and Krian, while the DAP has won five, Bukit Assek, Pujut, Padungan, Kota Sentosa and Piasau.

An Independent won the Pelagus seat.