<figure id="attachment_3206492" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3206492" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3206492 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/e9b96be5-noorita-sual-rubin-balang-tile-111125.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3206492" class="wp-caption-text">DAP is mulling the nomination of former Tenom MP Noorita Sual as its candidate for the Kemabong seat in Sabah’s interior, which will see her go up against longtime incumbent Rubin Balang of GRS.</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: DAP may have a mountain to climb if it decides to contest in Kemabong at the upcoming Sabah state election, as speculation swirls over a seat long held by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) Rubin Balang.
Known to be eyeing a seat in Sabah’s interiors, reports suggest DAP is mulling the nomination of senator and former Tenom MP Noorita Sual as its candidate.
<figure id="attachment_3101653" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3101653" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3101653 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/acbee1e9-oh-ei-sun-ms-060725-1.webp" alt="Oh Ei Sun" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3101653" class="wp-caption-text">Oh Ei Sun.</figcaption></figure>
Oh Ei Sun, of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, and Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Bilcher Bala said DAP has been actively trying to break out of its Chinese support base, even in Sabah.
He said Sabah DAP likely believes it had a strong presence in the state’s interiors, particularly in Tenom, given Noorita’s success there in 2018.
However, that win, Oh said, was largely due to the overall wave of support for Pakatan Harapan which led to the fall of the Barisan Nasional government at the 14th general election.
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That isn’t the situation now, he added.
Noorita failed to defend the Tenom seat in the 2022 general election, losing to Rubin’s son, Riduan, who contested as an independent candidate and won by 1,108 votes.
“DAP can’t win against Rubin,” Oh told FMT.
Bilcher said DAP’s move appeared to be more symbolic than strategic, given its lack of strong grassroots machinery and local influence in Kemabong.
<figure id="attachment_2961938" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2961938" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-2961938" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/c2002b28-bilcher-bala-ms-150125-1.webp" alt="Bilcher Bala" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2961938" class="wp-caption-text">Bilcher Bala.</figcaption></figure>
He said Rubin, who has represented the constituency in the state assembly for a total of six terms, was a local leader with a wide grassroots network and influence in the area. He also has the support of ruling state coalition GRS, Oh added.
“Though DAP may plan on fielding a candidate with a national profile like Noorita, it faces the challenges of logistics, local sentiments and traditional voters.
“Without a big wave pushing for change or local issues threatening Rubin’s position, DAP’s chances are slim.”
DAP unveiled seven candidates for the Sabah polls on Saturday, but its secretary-general Loke Siew Fook later said the party also plans to contest for an interior seat, with discussions still ongoing with its allies.
Yesterday, GRS confirmed that Rubin will defend his seat in the state polls.
Rubin, vice-president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, was Kemabong assemblyman from 1994 to 2018 representing Umno.
In the 2018 general election, BN fielded him in Tenom, which Noorita took by 1,133 votes.
When the snap 2020 Sabah election was held, Rubin again contested in Kemabong — this time as an independent candidate — and managed to win it with a 1,012-vote majority.
He beat five other candidates in the race, including Upko&#8217;s Lucas Umbul and Umno&#8217;s Raime Unggi.

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