LETTER | The Election Commission (EC) of Malaysia has implemented numerous regulations governing both general and by-elections, serving as integral pillars of our democracies.

Beyond these regulations, politicians must adhere to ethical standards and behaviours, extending beyond mere compliance with formal rules.

Despite various unethical practices over time, political parties either in their manifestos or public statements have committed to conducting elections in accordance with established rules.

The recent announcement made by the Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, of a RM5.21 million upgrade of Kuala Kubu Baharu blatantly disregards the 3C guidelines, regardless of any explanations provided.

The utilisation of federal and state funds during elections or close to an impending election has long been a source of contention among parties opposing and this pattern must be discontinued.

Despite the assurances given by the present government and by the prime minister, in particular, for improving transparency and governance and to eradicate corruption, this latest debacle by Nga is clearly a betrayal of the people’s trust and confidence.

Rasuah Busters views breaches of election regulations and practices as significant governance issues, given that elections constitute the essence of democracy.

While some may perceive this breach as minor, it sets a precedent for bending governmental rules in favour of the ruling parties' interests.

We implore all parties, whether in government or opposition, at the federal or state level, to fully adhere to election rules and practices to uphold the fairness of elections.

Rasuah Busters is in full support of Anwar’s goal of moving Malaysia from number 57 to top 25 of the world corruption ranking. To achieve this, every part of the government and its leaders need to provide exceptional examples of leadership.

The EC comes under Article 113 of the constitution and its composition under Article 114.

Allowing it to operate independently with additional reforms, especially concerning the appointment of its commissioner, the process of appointment and enforcement of power, should be the key reforms the government should begin to implement.

Finally, transparency and accountability are fundamental principles of democracy. Therefore, it is imperative that authorities investigate any breaches of election rules thoroughly and take appropriate action to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.