Here are some key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Bersih wants an explanation for the last-minute boost in Sarawak voter turnout

Electoral watchdog Bersih wants the Election Commission to explain how voter turnout for the May 7 Sarawak state election jumped from 52 percent at 4pm to 70 percent by end of polling an hour later.

The EC said the turnout includes early and absentee voters, but Bersih says the leap is highly unusual.

PKR wants opposition leader’s post, SUPP wants DCM spot

PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jeyakumar says Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian should be named opposition leader, although PKR only won three seats against DAP’s seven, because PKR made major inroads in interior seats.

Baru retained his rural Orang Ulu-majority Ba’Kelalan seat, while PKR kept its seat for rural Iban-majority Krian and urban Chinese-majority Batu Lintang. It also doubled its vote share in some rural areas.

Meanwhile, former SUPP president Dr George Chan said his successor Dr Sim Kui Hian (picture above) should be made deputy chief minister of Sarawak after successfully convincing the Chinese community to back BN.

Soul-searching and closing ranks for DAP, PKR

DAP embarks on a rigorous post-mortem, after failing to retain five seats, including its traditional urban stronghold in Kuching.

DAP and PKR leaders say they aim to close ranks, after disputes forced inter-Pakatan Harapan clashes in six seats.

However, results show DAP and PKR’s collective takings in those areas would not have been enough to win against BN candidates.

DAP says it does not regret failed ventures to contest in bumiputera-majority constituencies, but publicity chief Tony Pua blames money for the failure.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah says redelineation and immigration bans are also factors, noting that Sarawak BN also made a major comeback in 1991 after a redelineation exercise.

Other Kinibites

MCA postpones its party polls until after the 14th general election, so the party can focus on the GE.

A new wave of Malaysian films is attracting audiences back to the cinema.

BN leaders say the Sarawak polls was a litmus test for BN support at national level, and the victory could be repeated in GE14.

Looking ahead

Criminal breach of trust trial of Cheras Umno office holder continues today.