KOTA KINABALU: A down-to-earth, humble, albeit a little bit shy woman leader, Priscella Peter, the newly appointed president of Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), has already begun to showcase her political insight and leadership skills.
Just two days after assuming her role, the 27-year-old leader made a bold statement ahead of the crucial state election, expressing her confidence that KDM will be or be part of the state government after the upcoming elections.
“We will fight for the wellbeing of the people of Sabah; rest assured that we can achieve this, and KDM will definitely be part of the government after the elections,” she was quoted as saying recently.
Simultaneously, she emphasised the party’s dedication to defending and upholding Sabah’s rights as outlined in the 1963 Malaysian Agreement (MA63).
Priscella, a graduate of Curtin University Australia with a master’s degree in accounting, assumed the leadership position at KDM after her father, Datuk Peter Anthony, the party’s president, was imprisoned.
Under her leadership, Priscella has made history in the political landscape of Sabah by becoming the first woman to lead a local party.
“I see Priscella as a promising and visionary young leader who is educated and has a strong presence.
“As the founder of the KDM party, along with her father’s charisma and loyalty to the party’s cause, I believe Priscella has a bright political future in Sabah,” said political analyst Salman Nurillah.
Citing the many women leading political parties in the region as an example, Salman opined that it is certainly possible for Sabah to produce capable female leaders on par with men.
In fact, about 30 per cent of countries worldwide have had female rulers or leaders, highlighting their significant achievements.
“Whether as heads of state, government, or political parties, these women have demonstrated that they can take charge.
“Therefore, the general perception that women leaders are unfit to lead political parties is unfounded,” he added.
Salman believes that given the current unique and turbulent political landscape in Sabah, Priscella might face the challenging task of strengthening the party and gaining public support.
“However, I am optimistic that with the influence and the backing of Deputy President Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, Priscella can lead KDM to a successful era and win many DUN seats, especially in northern Sabah and rural areas,” said Salman, adding that it is a non-issue at all even if KDM is being led by a young woman.
Even in the absence of Datuk Peter, KDM, the locally based party that plans to run independently in the upcoming state elections, remains a significant contender and should not be underestimated in the PRN.
KDM is anticipated to present over 45 candidates in the forthcoming state election.
