Why democracy without integrity is just political theatre

By Faisal Aziz

Every September holds deep significance for Malaysians. It is a historic month, for it marks the founding of Malaysia.

Since 16 September 1963, our nation has journeyed through 62 years of growth and unity.

At the same time, September also carries global meaning for champions of democracy everywhere. On 15 September 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared this date as the International Day of Democracy.

Commemorating both of these occasions compels us to reflect on Malaysia’s future, one guided by principles of openness, inclusivity and respect that lie at the heart of democracy.

From the very beginning, Malaysia’s unique position as a multicultural and multi-religious nation has been seen by observers abroad as a social experiment: could a democratic system rooted in Eastern traditions endure amid such diversity?

This enduring question underscores the need for people in Malaysia to reconcile democratic principles, which are often dismissed as Western constructs, with our own cultural values. James C Scott, in his seminal 1968 work Political Ideology in Malaysia, already noted this challenge decades ago.

In response, scholars have long explored discourses such as ‘Islam and democracy’ and ‘civilisational dialogue’ to bridge these gaps. These efforts have borne fruit, with people in Malaysia today increasingly aware of their rights and more willing to demand accountability from those in power.

Peaceful assemblies, protests, strikes and public forums have since become vital manifestations of democratic maturity. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Democracy Index 2024 ranked Malaysia first among Southeast Asian nations.

Yet, with a score of 7.11, Malaysia remains in the category of ‘flawed democracy’, short of the 8.00–10.00 range that defines ‘full democracy’.

This reality should spur us to push harder for reform. Indeed, there is an intrinsic connection between reform and democracy. Without reform, democracy will shrink and regress. Similarly, without democracy, there will be little space for reform based on the aspirations of the people.

Key reforms must therefore be pursued such as amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, enforcement of the Parliamentary Service Act 2025, and revisions to the Election Offences Act 1955. These changes are not merely about improving Malaysia’s index ranking, but about ensuring that democracy genuinely empowers the people.

Democracy must never be reduced to cosmetic displays or political theatre. Nor should it devolve into a battlefield of endless hostility. As Mohammad Hatta reminded us in Demokrasi Kita, what Southeast Asia needs is not Western-style democracy that fuels individualism and capitalism, but social democracy, one that upholds compassion, justice, consensus (musyawarah) and collective responsibility (gotong-royong).

In this sense, democracy must be built on integrity. The late Dr Siddiq Fadzil captured this best:

“In true democracy, the losers are not disheartened, because they know who really wins. What wins is the idealism of the struggle itself, the principles and values of democracy, the sovereignty of the people. But in democracy without integrity, the losers are deeply disappointed, because they know who really wins. What wins are the destroyers of democracy: corruption, deceit, fraud and hypocrisy.”

Globally, however, democracy is facing a crisis of confidence. The EIU Democracy Index 2024 shows a continued decline worldwide: more than one-third of the world’s population (39.2%) now live under authoritarian rule, with 60 countries classified as authoritarian regimes. Civil liberties, electoral processes and pluralism have suffered their steepest decline since 2008.

Is this the failure of the democratic project itself?

The war crimes and ongoing acts of genocide perpetrated by the Zionist Israeli regime against the Palestinian people, coupled with the actions of the United States, often hailed as the champion of democracy, which recently, for the sixth time, has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to halt the genocide, raise a critical question: can democracy truly serve as a safeguard for the oppressed?

The truth is, the problem is not democracy itself, but democracy without integrity. A democracy stripped of its purpose to uplift human dignity, and instead performed as mere political theatre.

The irony is stark. In the name of being ‘civilised’, democratic nations demand rights for their own citizens while denying them in occupied territories. Those who champion democracy abroad can, in the blink of an eye, turn despotic when power is at stake.

This is democracy without integrity. A selective democracy that shields allies, protects political elites, and sacrifices principles when they are inconvenient. It is a democracy where the real victors are not the people, but corruption, hypocrisy and the betrayal of trust.

Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz is chairperson of Bersih, the Coalition For Clean and Fair Elections.

Support our work by making a donation. Tap to download the QR code below and scan this QR code from Gallery by using TnG e-wallet or most banking apps: