They may all look exhausted but one thing’s for sure, victory is sweet for the 19 DAP candidates who not only managed to retain their seats but also increased their majorities across the board.

At a press conference in Penang tonight, caretaker Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, describing the win as another wave of political tsunami, said that “it was difficult to win but harder still to retain the seat but we did it”.

NONE Lim ( right in photo ), flanked by all his comrades, thanked Penangites for the faith they have in a CAT (competent, accountable and transparent) government, saying, “We will work harder for the people every day”.

“We will not disappoint the people who placed so much trust in us,” said Lim.

“The results is also a testament that Penangites reject money politics, violence and gangsterism,” he added.

He also thanked his allies in PAS and PKR for going through the good and bad times with the DAP, resulting in Pakatan gaining an extra state seat, strengthening the coalition’s representation in the state legislative assembly.

“We feel humbled by this victory, we shall continue our commitments to the people of Penang.

“This was indeed a very tough fight, especially in Air Putih, such that state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow had to help me,” said the winning candidate for the state seat.

On winning Seberang Jaya but losing Balik Pulau, Lim said it was better to ask PKR as the whole contest in Balik Pulau rested on the candidature, adding that the matter would have to be resolved by PKR.

Lim also dismissed the possibility of not being able to gain Malay ground in this election.

“We win some and lose some. Definitely, we will have discussions with them and it’s only fair that you ask PKR because it’s their seat so they should have the first bite of the cherry,” Lim said.

“We have not done a complete analysis but find that the majority in many of our seats have increased. There are additional Malay votes, for example in Sungai Pinang we won by 4,000 plus and that’s double our majority,” he added.

“That can only be achieved by retaining Malay votes or increase a bit. And I think that’s prevalent across the board. And we won a Malay seat in Seberang Jaya, in Permatang Pauh,” he stressed.