Darell Leiking

Datuk Darell Leiking, also known as Ignatius Dorell Leiking (born 23 August 1971) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Moyog since September 2020. He served as the Minister of International Trade and Industry in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad from July 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Penampang from May 2013 to November 2022. He is a member of the Heritage Party (WARISAN) and was a member of the People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the PH and formerly Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalitions. He has also served as the 1st and founding Deputy President of the WARISAN since party foundation in October 2016.

State rights
Darell is one of many Sabah politicians who fight for the state rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement, and he constantly urges the government to provide a definite solution to the problem of illegal immigrants in the state, especially the problems caused by Project IC with the huge influx of Filipino refugees, and to set to rest the North Borneo dispute once and for all. He has rejected controversial remarks made towards other minority groups by a prominent minister in the cabinet, which was echoed by Baru Bian of the People's Justice Party (PKR). He has also spoken out against discrimination towards other ethnic groups by certain politicians.

Minister of International Trade and Industry (2018–2020)
The 2018 general election saw the first ever transition of power in the Malaysian history. Then PH opposition coalition was elected as the government after defeating the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. PH then formed the coalition government with WARISAN. On 2 July 2018, Darell was appointed as Minister of International Trade and Industry. On 24 February 2020, Darell lost his position after the PH government collapsed due to its loss of majority support in the Parliament.

2013 general election
In the 2013 general election, Darell made his electoral debut after being nominated by PR to contest for the Penampang federal seat. He won the seat and was elected to the Parliament as the Penampang MP for the first term after defeating Bernard Giluk Dompok of BN and Melania Annol of the Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak of Sabah (Sabah STAR) by a majority of 10,216 votes.

2018 general election
In the 2018 general election, Darell was nominated by WARISAN to defend the Penampang seat. He defended the seat and was reelected as the Penampang MP for the second term after defeating his cousin Ceasar Mandela Malakun of BN, Cleftus Stephen Spine of the Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) and Edwin Bosi of the Sabah Native Cooperation Party (PKAN) by a majority of 23,473 votes.

2022 general election
In the 2022 general election, Darell was renominated by WARISAN to defend the Penampang seat. He lost the seat and was not reelected as the Penampang MP for the third term after losing to Ewon Benedick of PH by a minority of 14,410 votes.

Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (since 2020)
In the 2020 Sabah state election, Darell was renominated by WARISAN to contest for the Moyog state seat. He won the seat and was elected into the Sabah State Legislative Assembly as the Moyog MLA for the first term after defeating Joseph Suleiman of STAR, John Chryso Masabal of the United Sabah Party (PBS), William Sampil of the Love Sabah Party (PCS), Marcel Annol of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Vinson Loijon of the Sabah People's Unity Party (PPRS) and independent candidate Robert Richard Foo by a majority of 5,935 votes.

Honours of Malaysia

 * Sabah :
 * MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - PGDK.svg Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (2018)

Foreign honours

 * 🇰🇷 South Korea :
 * Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 2) Gwanghwa Medal ribbon.gif Gwanghwa Medal of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (2020)