KOTA BELUD: Kadamaian’s 28-year-old Priskila Akwila is the youngest candidate and the only woman in the race.
Contesting under Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri, the lawyer said her decision stemmed from a deep desire to break out of passive political engagement.
“I didn’t want to be just a keyboard warrior or someone who only comments from the sidelines, I want to initiate change through my actions. Action speaks louder than words — that’s my motivation,” she said.
Despite going up against political “giants” and seasoned figures, Priskila said she is unfazed. Instead, she is relying on what she believes truly matters to Kadamaian voters.
“People here don’t care about money. The older generation told me they look at the candidate’s personality and sincerity.
“My strategy is simply to be genuine — through my manifesto and through meeting people on the ground,” she said.
“There are still roads in Tambatuon, Sayap and Tinata that haven’t been tarred until now.
“We keep choosing older leaders, but why are simple issues like road access still not fixed? We see new buildings like tamu ground structures being built — those are good — but we cannot ignore basic needs.”