Tharma Pillai

Biography

Tharma Pillai is the Co-Founder and Advocacy Director of Undi18, a youth movement that successfully advocated for lowering Malaysia’s voting age from 21 to 18. The Constitutional Amendment received unanimous Parliamentary approval, a first in Malaysian history. The UNDI18 Bill enfranchised 5.8 million new voters, increasing the electorate by 40% and transforming Malaysia's political landscape. In 2020, he helped launch Parlimen Digital, the world’s first youth-led virtual Parliament. Tharma is also Managing Director of Reimagine Now and founder of Quasa.ai, a startup innovating in regulatory compliance tech.

He has been recognized as Tatler Asia’s Most Influential (2022), Generation T Asia (2022), Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 (2021), and Finalist for the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize (2024).

Tharma has served on the Parliamentary Taskforce for Anti-Corruption, the National Youth Consultative Council, and the Senate Reform Committee.