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English Press Statement

Darrel Leiking’s decade of failures:Time to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility

Datuk  Ceasar Mandela Malakun.

It is truly ironic that Darrel Leiking, the Assemblyman for Moyog, has suddenly become an “expert” on Penampang’s flood problems—when for nearly a decade, he failed to address these very issues as the Member of Parliament for Penampang from 2013 to 2022, including his tenure as a Federal Minister from 2018 to 2020.

Leiking now claims that poor drainage maintenance is the primary cause of flash floods and demands immediate action from the GRS-PH Plus government. But let’s ask a simple question: What did he do when he was in power?

For 10 years, the people of Penampang and Moyog entrusted him with their mandate, yet instead of focusing on real solutions, he wasted his time playing politics, making excuses, and pointing fingers.

As an MP:

• Did he push for federal funding to upgrade the drainage system in Penampang? No.

• Did he use his influence as a Federal Minister to ensure the flood mitigation plan was implemented? No.

• Did he fight for his constituents when he actually had power? Clearly not.

Now that he is no longer in Parliament, he suddenly pretends to care—but where was this urgency when he actuallyhad the authority to act?

If Warisan is truly committed to the people, why hasn’t Leiking lobbied for federal funding through his own party’s ministerial connections? Instead of taking real action, he continues to write press statements blaming others while neglecting his own duties as ADUN for Moyog.

Unlike Leiking, current Penampang MP Ewon Benedick has been tirelessly working to fix the problems left behind by years of Warisan’s failure.

Since taking office, Ewon has actively engaged with the relevant authorities to push for real flood mitigation solutions—something Leiking failed to do during his 10-year tenure as MP for Penampang.

The GRS-PH Plus government remains focused on delivering results, not indulging in endless blame games like Leiking.

Flood mitigation requires long-term planning, real effort, and responsible leadership, not political theatrics for media attention.

Instead of attacking those who are actually working, Leiking should take responsibility for his failures and ask himself why, after all these years, the same problems remain unsolved under his watch—because he failed to act when it mattered most.

The people of Penampang and Moyog deserve better than a leader who only shows up during election season to point fingers.

If Darrel Leiking cannot even fulfill his responsibilities as ADUN for Moyog, perhaps it is time for him to step aside and let real leaders take charge—leaders who work, not just talk.

*Datuk  Ceasar Mandela Malakun, is the Political Secretary to the chief minister of Sabah. He is also the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Penampang Youth Chief.

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