The vote was seen as a test of popularity for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has dished out money for rural development, in what was described by some observers as the most crucial poll since the 2008 general elections.

The opposition secured unprecedented gains in the 2008 nationwide polls, seizing five states and a third of parliamentary seats and threatening the Barisan Nasional's (BN) half-century grip on power.

Those results forced Najib's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down.

The prime minister hailed BN's win and described victory as a "strong mandate" to rule Sarawak, but he was cagey on the subject of whether he will call snap national polls this year.

"This convincing victory shows that the people do not accept the promises of the opposition and their attempt to create a political tsunami in Sarawak has failed," he said.

The opposition grouping held eight of the 71 seats in the state assembly of Sarawak, on Borneo island, before it was dissolved in March, paving the way for this election.

The buoyant opposition was hoping for a repeat in Sarawak by denying the government the two-thirds majority in the state that effectively allows the BN coalition to pass legislation without any obstruction.

But while it failed, the opposition successfully made inroads into this rugged state where many of the areas are accessible only by air and river.

Najib's ruling BN clinched 55 seats while Anwar Ibrahim's opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance won 15. An independent candidate took one seat.

The opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) won 12 of the 15 seats it contested in mainly urban areas. Anwar's Keadilan party won three seats.

"It is a big gain for us. We almost annihilated our opponents in the urban areas," said Jeff Ooi, opposition MP and a member of DAP's policy-making body.

In 2006 polls DAP won six seats. Ooi said the opposition's gains were down to their verbal attacks on the 74-year-old chief minister Taib Mahmud.

Taib has been in power for 30 years and is seen as a controversial symbol of BN dominance in resource-rich Sarawak.

He has denied allegations of large-scale corruption involving his family and political allies.

The alleged maltreatment of tribal communities and the exploitation of Sarawak's natural resources during Taib's rule were emotive issues in the campaign.

One other major issue was the government's attempt to restrict bibles printed in the national Malay language.

Najib, who took over the leadership two years ago, said: "We have to realise this is only a state election so we also have to consider other factors including the states in peninsula Malaysia as well as Sabah before any decision on when the next GE (general election) will be held."

National polls do not need to be held until mid-2013.

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