While voters left PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) in tatters, DAP silenced its critics by winning the highest number of parliamentary seats in more than a decade.

The party retained all but one of its incumbent seats, while adding four more to the stable.

The new constituencies are Ipoh Timor - won by chairperson Lim Kit Siang, Ipoh Barat by deputy secretary-general M Kulasegaran, Bukit Gelugor by deputy chairperson Karpal Singh (left photo) and Bandar Kuching by Chong Chieng Jen.

DAP held the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat in Penang until two weeks before the election but its renegade incumbent Goh Kheng Huat defected to Keadilan, taking his seat with him.

However, Goh was unseated by Barisan Nasional's (BN) Zainol Abidin Osman with a majority of more than 6,000 votes.

Despite charting new grounds, the party also suffered a few unexpected defeats. Its secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock lost the traditional stronghold of Kota Melaka by a mere 192 votes.

(At press time a recount was being conducted for three DAP seats - Kota Melaka, Ipoh Barat and Bukit Bintang)

In addition to this, DAP lost two of its four Melaka state seats that were held by party veterans. In Ayer Keroh, its Melaka chief Sim Tong Him was defeated while in Bandar Hilir, another veteran Goh Leong San lost.

Tsunami impact

Contacted later, Lim expressed measured satisfaction over the party's performance.

"We did not make a major advance. However, in the light of the devastating tsunami (tidal wave) impact of (Prime Minister) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi which saw the opposition generally routed, DAP managed to not only hold good but to increase our parliament number.

"This is the silver lining in the gloom for democracy in the country," he said, referring to the massive landslide victory by the BN.

He added that the party not only increased its take of parliamentary seats compared to1999, when it held 10, but also compared to1995 when it held nine.

Over the past few months, DAP was assailed with criticisms, including claims that the party had lost its relevance in opposition politics since its main support was the urban Chinese.

Lim, who made his triumphant return into Parliament by defeating MCA's Thong Fah Chong with a whopping 10,000-vote majority, said last night proved not only its continued relevance but also "the irrelevance of its critics".

"There is no doubt that the message is loud and clear. We have now a long and arduous journey still to go," he added.

Lim, who has held a parliamentary seat since 1969 was defeated narrowly in 1999 by Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye at the Bukit Bendera seat in Penang.

Days before the election, the DAP veteran was accused by PAS president and Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang of being a 'dinosaur' with 'outdated' struggles.

However, Abdul Hadi was one of the key opposition leaders massacred last night, losing not only his Marang parliamentary seat but the whole state to BN as well.

Shocking setback

According to Lim, a key factor which helped DAP to its victory last night included the party's emphatic rejection of the Islamic state concept by both PAS and Umno.

As for the party's performance in Melaka, he described it as a "shocking setback" though he declined to venture into reasons behind the defeats.

In other states, DAP managed to retain its sole state seat of Triang in Pahang while increasing its take modestly in Selangor.

Former Bandar Klang state assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim won in the new Sungai Pinang seat while newcomer Ng Swee Lim took the Sekinchan seat narrowly by 344 votes.

The party also made fresh headway into Negeri Sembilan winning the only two opposition seats in the state.

Newcomers Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Lim Fui Ming won the Lobak and Bahau seats respectively.