EC To Use Indelible Ink In Next General Election

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- After much deliberation, the Election Commission (EC) today finally decided to use the idelible ink on voters either on their fingernail or finger in the next general election, said its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.He said EC arrived at the decision to use the the Indian-made ink which would only deface after a few days after consulting the National Fatwa Council's advice on whether its usage contravened Islamic syariah (Islamic law).Abdul Rashid said EC was working on the guideline to be observed by election personnel when carrying out the procedure during the casting of votes, he told reporters here today.

"Although the use of indelible ink may not be foolproof in curbing cheating if there were any or if at all there were cases of those appearing for the dead, it could thwart allegations made by certain quarters on the existence of phantom voters or trying to tarnish EC's image," he said.The National Fatwa Council had approved the decision after the Chemistry Department and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) concluded their findings that the ink was free of unclean elements which could render ablutions void.

EC had proposed the use of indelible ink to prevent cheating in the next general election.On the procedure of using the ink, Abdul Rashid said the second clerk would apply the ink on the fingernail or forefinger of the voters' left hand after their identity were confirmed by the first clerk.He said the third clerk would then give a punched ballot paper to the voters.

"To amputees, a stamp mark using the indelible ink would be made on the stump after they had completed voting," he said, adding that the procedure was not applicable in postal voting which was safeguarded by several declarations.Abdul Rashid said the first clerk who was responsible in checking the identity cards of the voters would also check the voters' fingers to determine whether they had already voted while for those using nail colouring, the ink would be applied on their finger.

However, he said voters were not encouraged to use nail colouring when casting their votes.Abdul Rashid said the use of indelible black ink which cost less than RM1 million would be very effective as it would not be easily removed like the ones used in other countries.He said the use of the ink would appease several political parties which had requested EC, after the 2004 general election, to introduce certain procedures to prevent rigging.

"In an election, cheating could be done in three ways namely by using the identity of cards of dead electors, using other voters' identity cards or casting the votes twice (by using the same identity cards at two different places)," he said.Abdul Rashid said the EC would study the problems it encountered after introducing the indelible ink before enforcing it as an election procedure.

-- BERNAMA