Inaction in the face of injustice spells disaster for the many. It was through her own lived experience that Roshinee Mookaiah learned of this ugly imbalance. But instead of trudging off, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Her first stint? A post within a non-profit organisation within the education sector. “Seeing the life that my parents led, and the kind of opportunities that I had—or lack thereof—when I was growing up, moved me,” she shared. That was 2018. Now, she is entering her ninth year in her advocacy work, and she has sincerely never looked back.
After completing her MSc in Human Rights and Politics at the London School of Economics (LSE), Mookaiah returned home with a renewed sense of conviction. There, the program hosted a diverse group of individuals who came from various backgrounds, and that was what Mookaiah appreciated about the experience. “It makes me feel, at some points, privileged to come from Malaysia, but also sometimes frustrated, depending on who I’m talking to. It really gave me a more nuanced perspective of how Malaysia is on the global scale,” she clarified. Once upon a time, she was fueled to push for inclusive access to education. But when she saw just how much her work was affected by politics, Mookaiah took it upon herself to clear a path. “Everything is affected by political will and political governance,” was what she told herself.
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So, will we be seeing her name on the ballot in the next election? Not quite. She is instead working behind the scenes to effect change. “I don’t necessarily have to participate in partisan politics to work in politics. The other option is to work in the civil society, and this is where I feel I can make the most difference,” said Mookaiah, who now works in a philanthropic organisation working towards international development. “I work at the intersections of human rights, technology, and social justice. We ponder the question of how we can use technology to amplify civic participation and hold people who are misusing technology accountable—and this could include the state as well.”
That 9-to-5 aside, Mookaiah, ever the overachiever, is also the founder of a grassroots non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Mekar Kami. It’s a space for women to grow their political awareness. One of her favourite highlights from her work with Mekar Kami was when the group collaborated with Women for Refugees to bring young women into the fold to teach them about human rights advocacy, the right language to use on the topic, as well as methods for advocating for themselves and their community. “The three-month-long process was extremely rewarding, especially seeing their curiosity and their sincerity to uplift their community,” she recalled.
As we head into 2026, Mookaiah has one thing in mind: “to build towards community through my content creation.” Her online persona, the Political Yapper, makes politics highly approachable, even for the most novice of persons. Couple that with her engaging energy and impactful visuals, and the advocate has pulled almost 50,000 followers to her educational platform—with more soon to come.
Roshinee emphasised that even the smallest action can have massive effects. “Pay attention to what’s happening in your neighbourhood. The easiest way you can make changes is in your own immediate environment. It’s a great way to start cultivating political awareness,” she started. “Then, you could consider joining a community for whichever cause you prefer, and get to know people because it really expands your mind. You’ll get a more nuanced perspective as well.”
Photography: Sarah Hobbs
Styling & Creative Direction: Joseph Cheng
Art Direction: Nadia Aswardy
Hair: VV Chan, Zac Lee, Philex Chin, Cody Chua
Makeup: Eranthe Loo, Crystal Fong (Plika Makeup)
Styling Assistants: Sarah Chong, Lorraine Chai, Maryssa Helmi
Photography Assistants: Ayiesha Almas, Brandan Simon
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