He told a media conference here last night that he had only expected BN to win 65 or 66 seats prior to polling day, but saw BN returning to power with a convincing 72-seat win in the 82-seat state legislative assembly.

Soon after BN was declared the winner on Saturday night, the 72-year-old Adenan was sworn in as chief minister before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.

At a joint press conference with national BN chairman Najib Razak, Adenan said the outcome of the election proved that the DAP had lost ground in urban areas.

He noted that BN had recaptured the Batu Kawah, Repok, Meradong, Dudong and Piasau seats while reducing the opposition’s majority in areas which they still retained.

“It showed that support had swung back to BN. We’ve (gained) a lot more in popular votes as well,” said Adenan who led the first election since he became chief minister two years ago.

Sarawak BN secretary-general Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said that the opposition had lost ground in urban areas and also failed in their bid to penetrate the state’s rural areas.

“Impian Sarawak (the DAP slogan to win rural support) is a failure because it is just window dressing,” he said.

He said the influence wielded by Adenan alone had created a feel-good spirit that attracted the electorate towards the BN in the polls. “The people have seen that the chief minister had effected a lot of changes that benefit them,” he added.

-BERNAMA