As a young Malaysian woman, I don't see any political representation of myself in mainstream Malaysian politics.

Politicians are either too busy buffing up their image with public money to give them political mileage, or too busy enriching themselves and their cronies to care about issues raised by the youths.

BN's race-based system is a huge turn-off from the get-go, while Pakatan Harapan's coalition with the same race-based ilk as exemplified by Bersatu just feels too much like treachery towards all the progressive values of equality and justice that they were supposed to espouse.

The politics is the same - protect your own people first, protect your own interests first, before the interests of the people.

And I am a straight, Malay, Muslim woman in Malaysia. I cannot imagine the kind of marginalisation in representation felt by other racial, religious and sexual minorities.

For the longest time, I haven’t seen any alternatives, other than the close circle of friends I keep with me.

They are youths who see past the superficial image of progressiveness that politicians on both ends try to feed us. In order to secure political mileage, even politicians in the opposition pander to the divisive narrative of Malay supremacy and homophobia.

Case in point: The collection of 10,000 signatures by Bersatu's Youth wing, Armada, to "destroy beer festival culture" as it could lead to a "gay festival" later.

Was I surprised they came up with that petition? Not at all....