The news reached Malaysian democracy activists like a thunderclap.

The indelible ink, applied on the finger of voters to prevent multiple voting at the upcoming GE13 in Malaysia, washes off with a combination of water and hand sanitiser gel!

Indelible ink was seen as a major concession to the Bersih campaign for clean, fair and free elections.

Until now, democracy activists thought that they were on a winner with indelible ink.

Sure, overseas postal voting lacked proper processes, with observers denied the right to reconcile voter counts, and gagged from speaking to the media, but there were only about 8,000 overseas postal votes and many were going home to vote, inspired by the Jom Balik Undi campaign.

The demand for equal access to the media was ignored, with the government-controlled print and television media giving zero airtime to the opposition groups, but at least online media was still available to the opposition.

Democracy activists have expressed grave concerns about the crooked electoral roll and the massive gerrymandering, but believed that a large turnout could overcome phantom voters.

"We know that they will cheat but how much can they cheat?" a democracy activist said to this writer, referring to the massive response that opposition groups were receiving in their public gatherings.

After all, the indelible ink would act as a brake to their worst excesses.

Everyone believed that a big turnout could turn the tables on a corrupt and sick government.

The opposition forces have sensed that victory was within their grasp.

The hopeful masses disgusted with the government would shake off the fear of May 13 racial riots.

Attempts to divide and rule along racial lines would fail and a new nation would emerge and exorcise the demons afflicting the government.

The people would assert themselves and would stand up to be counted.

This time it would be different.

Ini Kalilah Ubah !

Now, we find out that a key obstacle to widespread cheating, a foundation stone of the Bersih demand, is but a column of salt that can be washed away by soap and water.

In 2008, the Election Commission withdrew the use of indelible ink, citing constitutional issues.

However at this election, we will instead have indelible ink of the washable variety.

Initial denials by the Election Commission that the ink washes off have given way to the excuse that ink bottles were not shaken prior to use.

Do they really expect us to swallow that line? Where are the independent tests to prove the veracity of their claims?

Bersih had offered to test the indelible ink, an offer that was rejected out of hand by the Election Commission.

Bare-faced shameless lies by a government that has lost every vestige of moral authority.

The cornered beast is fighting even more viciously than ever.

Democracy activists are learning a harsh lesson about incumbency and the extent of the government's duplicity.

By nature, democracy activists are idealists.

There is nothing wrong with idealism and youth is a time for such optimism to flower.

But they have come against a bunch of world-class crooks.

If there was an Olympic sport in corruption, cronyism and cheating at elections, Bolehland would triumph.

The indelible ink scandal will stiffen the resolve of democracy activists and sharpen their rhetoric to lance the boil that festers in the body politic.

This experience will temper them like steel in a cauldron of fire that is Malaysian politics.

Do not mess with these idealistic democrat activists who have showed much imagination and flair in their struggle with the devil that we know lives in the Malaysian government's heart.

A population has been roused from its slumber.

Hell hath no fury like a people denied their opportunity to retake their country.

The people's spirit will not be doused as easily as their proclaimed indelible ink.

While the indelible ink will wash away, the sins of Umno/Barisan will not wipe clean as easily.

The stain on a nation's soul will not cleanse.

The anger of the people denied their voice will reverberate and when the time for reckoning comes, the demand for justice will ring louder than ever and their revenge will be exacted in more than equal measure.

Be careful, Umno, as you may have lifted a rock that will smash into you with the ferocity of a tsunami.