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.
Member of Parliament (2013–2022) 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. == Election results ==