What makes me proud is seeing youths from diverse backgrounds take leadership roles in Muda, motivated to engage in politics not just for power but also to make real difference, says acting president

With the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) holding its first-ever party elections tomorrow, its acting president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz shared with theSun her thoughts about building a party for young Malaysians, breaking stereotypes in politics and why she believes diversity is key to leadership.

theSun: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in Muda?

Amira Aisya: My journey in politics actually didn’t start with me wanting to be a politician. It began back during my university days, at the peak of the fight against (former prime minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak over 1MDB. That’s when I got involved in student activism, working with Syed Saddiq in Deklarasi Rakyat to meet people and demand accountability.

When Syed Saddiq decided to co-found Bersatu he invited me to join him, but I didn’t. I grew up in Johor Bahru in a community that always voted for Malay-based parties but I never really believed in race-based politics.

However, after the Sheraton Move in 2020, I realised that the system itself needed change. I reached out to Syed Saddiq, suggested forming a new party with young, smart people, and that’s how Muda was born.

I quit my job, and together we built the party. Muda is my first political party and I’m proud to still be part of it today.

theSun: How has your journey as acting president been so far?

Amira Aisya: Leading Muda has been both humbling and meaningful. Democracy isn’t easy. It is noisy and messy, but it’s necessary to build the political culture we want.

For Muda it’s not just about winning elections or being in power. It’s about changing how politics is done.

When I became acting president in 2023, I knew I was stepping into very big shoes. Syed Saddiq had already led Muda into successful elections, and carrying that trust forward, especially at 28 years of age, was a big responsibility.

But what makes me proud is seeing people from diverse backgrounds, different races, women and men stepping forward to take leadership roles in our party elections, showing that Muda has inspired youth to engage in politics, not just for power but also to make a real difference.

theSun: Being a young woman in politics comes with its own challenges. How do you navigate that?

Amira Aisya: Women in politics often fight two battles – one is for our ideas, the other is for respect. There are moments when people judge you before even hearing your ideas because of your age or gender. If you speak too harshly they think you’re emotional, too softly and they think you’re weak. If you smile too much they think you’re not serious.

Social media can be harsh too. Comments often focus on appearance rather than ideas.

Women can lead with empathy, patience and the ability to listen, which is something Malaysian politics really needs. Leadership isn’t just about power, it’s about serving and connecting with people.

theSun: How does Muda appeal to both young and older generations?

Amira Aisya: During the Johor state election I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, young people were excited. They were voting for the first time but people aged 50 and above were supportive, too. Many are tired of the same old politicians who don’t care about real change.

Muda offers fresh ideas and a commitment to values like freedom, justice and solidarity. We’ve shown that we’re willing to step away from power if it betrays the people’s mandate. That helps rebuild trust, not just in Muda but also in political institutions overall.

theSun: How do you balance your national leadership role with serving your constituency in Puteri Wangsa?

Amira Aisya: Politics doesn’t start at the podium or in Parliament; it starts on the ground with real people. My national role allows me to strategise for Muda and talk about policies that matter.

But my constituency work keeps me grounded. Seeing single mothers struggle, families affected by floods or children pulled out of school motivates me to fight for meaningful change. These two roles complement each other. They keep me connected to people and give me the platform to make a bigger impact.

theSun: How do you inspire youth and women to enter politics?

Amira Aisya: When I was growing up, I didn’t see many women in politics to look up to. Mentorship is about more than advice; it’s about opening doors and creating safer spaces for younger women to step into leadership roles.

Muda got rid of women’s wings intentionally as we want to show that women can be president of a party, not just lead a wing.

In our last six state elections, over 50% of our candidates were women, the first time in Malaysia’s history. It’s about intentionally creating a culture where women are represented in every conversation and decision-making process.

theSun: What are Muda’s biggest challenges today?

Amira Aisya: The biggest challenge is the crisis of trust in politics. Young parties like Muda also face resource limitations. Politics shouldn’t be about who has the biggest war chest.

Muda tries to dismantle that perception. We raise funds through community activities like pickleball tournaments, movie nights or selling nasi lemak. This ensures that ordinary Malaysians can be part of the political journey and that Muda is accountable to them, not just the rich.

theSun: How do you feel about social media’s role in politics today?

Amira Aisya: Social media is great because it allows Malaysians to see what politicians are actually doing.

Some say young people don’t know how to vote and blame them for supporting certain parties, but young people are smart.

They read, evaluate and make decisions based on what they see. If progressives don’t trust young people why should young people trust progressives?

Our challenge in Muda is to make sure our ideas reach them and that we’re part of the conversation, not drowned out by bigger parties.

theSun: How do you see Malaysia’s future, especially with young people taking charge?

Amira Aisya: I know people feel dejected seeing global issues and local struggles but Malaysia is a young country with enormous potential.

We have young Malaysians willing to return from overseas to serve, to protest against corruption and to step into politics despite the risks.

Muda reflects this diversity and hope. Our upcoming party elections include people from different races, religions, genders and ages.

They’re stepping into leadership not for power but because they believe Malaysia is worth fighting for. That gives me hope that the future of Malaysia is bright, inclusive and led by capable individuals from all walks of life.

 The Sun Malaysia