Rubin Balang

• Political Experience:
  • MLA for Kemabong from 1994–2018, and again from 2020 onward.
  • Successfully contested the 2020 election as an independent, later supporting the GRS-led state government
  • Holds leadership roles within GAGASAN as Vice President
• Political Influence: Known for involvement in strategic party shifts (PBS → UMNO) that altered Sabah’s political landscape
• Economic and Development Advocacy:
  • Commented publicly on the difficulty of obtaining mining approvals, describing them as “tedious” even under former CM Musa Aman’s administration Daily Express.
  • As GAGASAN VP, he emphasized the importance of local projects—responding to investor concerns regarding Sabah development proposals like the “goat and silica sand” projects Daily Express.

• Long-serving MLA of Kemabong: He has served as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kemabong from February 1994 to May 2018, and again since September 2020
• Independent Candidate Victory: He won the Kemabong seat in the 2020 Sabah state election as one of just three independent candidates to secure seats; he later aligned with Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s administration
• Vice President of GAGASAN: He holds the position of Vice President in Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN), a key component party of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition
• Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN): He is a member and Vice President of GAGASAN, which is part of the ruling coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)
• Veteran of Party Switching (“Katak”): After the 1994 state elections, Rubin was one of three assemblymen who defected from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to UMNO, contributing to the collapse of the PBS state government—earning the label “katak” (frog) Malay Mail.

Logging corruption claims – “Projek Agropolitan Kabintaluan”

A 2020 report alleges that the Agropolitan development project in Kemabong failed, yet timber from the area was allegedly appropriated by Rubin Balang and his associates, without the project being implemented. This led to public outrage over alleged misuse of power and resources. sabahkini2.co

Alleged campaign meddling – involving his son

In the 2022 general election (GE15), Rubin was accused of breaching the GRS–BN electoral pact by allegedly allowing his son, Riduan Rubin, to contest in Tenom via Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM). This prompted calls from Bung Moktar and others for disciplinary action within GRS. Astro AwaniBorneo Post Online

MACC mining-license corruption scandal

In early 2025, leaked whistleblower video clips related to mining license corruption implicated several GRS representatives—including Rubin. However, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) later found the videos unreliable and heavily edited, effectively clearing Rubin of wrongdoing in their view. Malay Mail

Legislative and Bureaucracy Reform Advocacy

• In April 2025, Rubin spoke up in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly about outdated government procedures that hinder development—particularly infrastructure projects like the KM15 Tenom–Kemabong–Sipitang road and support for small Bumiputera contractors. He advocated for decentralizing authority to local agencies. Borneo Post Online

Highlighting mining-licensing challenges

• In late 2024, Rubin (then SEDCO chair) publicly acknowledged the complex, costly, and prolonged process for securing mining approvals in Sabah, even after the state’s mining department was established. Sabah Media

Long-standing public service

Rubin Balang has served as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kemabong in two stints: from 1994 to 2018, and again since 2020. He has held various ministerial roles in Sabah during the 1990s and early 2000s (e.g., Assistant Minister to Chief Minister, Minister of Youth, Culture & Sports Development) and is a vice-president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN). Wikipedia