Politics sweetened with money and laced with fear are the reasons behind Barisan Nasional's resounding victory in Sarawak's eighth state elections yesterday, claimed several opposition candidates.

A Keadilan candidate told malaysiakini today that a BN supporter was even detained for distributing money at the Sebuyon polling station in the Asajaya constituency and handed over to the police.

Zulrusdhi Mohd Hol who contested the Satok seat said that Keadilan has gathered evidence of BN distributing money to voters before the elections and at the polling stations.

"Voters in Kota Samarahan (Muara Tuang) and Asajaya were given about RM50 to RM150 each," said Zulrusdhi.

"We are doing a post-mortem and will be handing a petition to the Election Commission soon," he added.

In yesterday's elections, BN score a landslide victory, winning 60 out of the 62 seats. Among the opposition parties, only DAP managed to win a seat in Kidurong while another was won by an independent candidate.

Silat groups

Meanwhile, Keadilan state chief Hafsah Harun told malaysiakini that fear tactics employed by BN had influenced voters' decision.

She claimed the ruling coalition had stationed not only police and auxiliary security personnel but silat (martial arts) groups as well in a bid to intimidate the voters at the polling stations.

Hafsah alleged that five Keadilan supporters were assaulted and have been hospitalised. "Party . officials have lodged several police reports and will be seeking the necessary legal action".

Sarawak DAP chief Richard Wong described his party's performance as a " disaster" but attributed the failure to the problems with the election process.

He complained that his party's polling agents who oversee the process of vote counting disappeared and were nowhere to be found.

Wong said he suspected that they had been "bought over" or "threatened" by certain quarters.

"This is the first time that we had to submit names of our polling agents to the commission several days ahead of the elections," he said.

"This had never been necessary. I suspect the names of our agents were leaked out," he told malaysiakini .

DAP had expected to win at least three of the 13 seats contested but managed to win only in Kidurong. Wong himself was defeated by a BN candidate in his stronghold of Bukit Assek.

Wong also agreed to the existence of fear tactics, especially BN's anti-terrorism campaign, at this year's elections

"The Sept 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington had been exploited to instill fear in the people that if they supported the opposition, the country would be in chaos," he said.

The controversy surrounding DAP's eleventh hour departure from Barisan Alternatif over the Islamic state issue was also twisted by BN to show that the opposition was in tatters, he added.

People's choice

Despite the allegations of bribes and threats, the candidates conceded albeit in a cynical manner, that BN's landslide victory was proof that the people in Sarawak were happy with the ruling coalition.

"We can only say that this is a testimony that the people like the government stealing their land, practising corruption and cronysim," said Zulrushdi, who added that the people would have to suffer another term of oppression due to their decision.

Meanwhile, Hafsah congratulated BN on its victory. "The people like BN, it is their right and this is democracy.

"But we are not giving up. We realise that we have really loyal supporters here who know their rights and cannot be bought by money or threatened," she added.

DAP's Wong when asked to comment on BN's victory replied, "There are two types of victory. One is when you win humbly, fairly and honourably and the other when you win unfairly, arrogantly and dishonourably".

"Can the BN bravely say that they have won in the first manner?" he queried.