About 1.1 million people across the heavily jungled state were eligible to participate.
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It is the first election in the country since Najib faced allegations previous year that hundreds of millions of dollars were siphoned onto his personal bank accounts in 2013 from an indebted state-owned investment fund, 1MDB, that he founded in 2009.
Najib’s National Front coalition will retain Sarawak, but he is hoping for a big victory in the lead-up to national polls due in 2018. He needed a strong showing in Sarawak for his coalition as he fends off a public campaign led by former leader Mahathir Mohamad to get him to quit.
Sarawak and Sabah states on jungle-clad Borneo make up for a quarter of the 222 seats held by the coalition in federal parliament.
In a bid to shore up support in Sarawak, Najib has in recent weeks promised billions in development money for the state, which he has visited more than 50 times since he took power in 2009.
The BN has been in power since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957, but has lost support over the last two general elections, turning in its worst-ever result in the 2013 national poll.
Among the early winners declared was Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem defending Tanjung Batu with 6,360 votes for a 5,892 majority over sole rival Jazolkipli Numan (PKR) who polled 468 votes and lost his deposit.
Projects in the state are expected to benefit Gamuda and IJM Corp., while companies based there like Hock Seng Lee Bhd., Naim Holdings Bhd., Zecon Bhd. and Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd. are potential winners, according to a JPMorgan Chase & Co. report. “I can’t decide if he’s being honest or not”.
Barisan Nasional has formed the Sarawak state government with a two-thirds majority, announced the Election Commission on Saturday. Large parts of the state are covered by mountain highlands and rainforests, with some settlements accessible only by helicopter or a long river trip.
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He said the coalition partners should accept the election results as a lesson.
