KUALA LUMPUR: Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Professor Azmi Sharom wants the commission to adhere to the principles of democracy and transparency at the highest level.
Azmi emphasised the need for transparency in appointing EC commissioners, saying that the current process was shrouded in secret and opaque practices.
"The EC itself ought to be subject to such ideals. The appointment of commissioners, myself included, is shrouded in secret and opaque practices.
"Perhaps it is time to throw light on this process. It is not unprecedented in our country to have a change in appointment processes.
"The existence of the judicial appointment commission is the clearest example of how a process that was once unknown is at least now more open.
"Ideas of change are all well and good. How do we move forward? What is needed for reform to occur? The first thing is leadership. Leadership within the EC and without the EC, with strong leadership, much can be done," he said in his speech at the Bersih Congress here today.
Azmi said leadership was needed not only to foster positive changes, but also to stand up to challenges.
Highlighting the current transition in the EC leadership and the rising global threats of disinformation, Azmi stressed the need for vigilance and continuous improvement to maintain a vibrant democracy.
"We are at a critical time in our nation's struggle for democracy," he said.
Meanwhile, addressing the need for reform, the commissioner called for updates to outdated laws and policies, backed by political will.
"As such, there has to be a political bill for the governments that want to meaningfully look at these laws and policies and make the necessary changes," he said.
Azmi also said there were threats to democracy from polarisation and disinformation, particularly on social media.
He said while social media could enhance election campaigning and public debate, unregulated hate speech and disinformation distorted free and informed choices.
"But if they operate, unregulated hate speech, disinformation and valuing campaigning expenditure can overshadow the free and informed choice.
"We need collaboration, political will and leadership to develop new strategies and legal frameworks that protect online campaigning rights in countering these threats," Azmi said.
He acknowledged that while it is easy to blame the EC, limitations due to outdated laws and practices make it difficult to enact change.
He said the reality is that politicians do what they do based on political interests.
"It is therefore imperative that the people of civil society keep up the scrutiny and the pressure to ensure that electoral reform is in their political interest.
"If we value our democracy, we must constantly ensure that it is healthy. Complacency will only lead to the loss of what we should hold dear," he said.