The Election Commission (EC) has agreed to use the indelible ink for the 13th general election.

NONE EC deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar ( left ) told Berita Harian that the commission has agreed to accept this recommendation by the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform.

“We will take all the necessary steps to implement it with the cooperation of the Attorney-General’s Chambers to prevent any problems.

“The indelible ink will be used in the 13th general election. That is the EC’s intention and we respect the PSC’s recommendation, but there are still some things which need to be done, as this requires an amendment to the Election (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981,” he is quoted as saying.

The use of indelible ink was one of the recommendations by the PSC, and the EC had said it is prepared to use it subject to recommendations of the National Fatwa Council.

It was also reported that the Fatwa Council had approved the use of the indelible ink in 2007.

RM5 million to purchase ink

Wan Ahmad said under the new law, the voter who comes would be marked with the indelible ink and then given the balloting paper. In the last general election it could not be implemented as there was no amendment, he said.

“Now, it would not be a problem as it is agreed to by all parties. However, administrative action has to be taken to review the contents of the indelible ink to ensure the chemicals used are not prohibited as we need to get feedback from the National Fatwa Council,” he said.

The EC deputy chairperson said it expects to spend RM5 million to purchase the ink as the supplies allocated in the last general election had expired and had been disposed off.

indelible ink 020607 Meanwhile, Sinar Harian quoted Wan Ahmad, in commenting on the same issue, as saying it is the EC’s aim to ensure that the indelible ink is used but the process would have to be tabled to the parliamentary select committee.

“All parties need not worry as the EC has is trying to fulfil the aspirations of the people.”

The EC, he said had identified two suppliers for the indelible ink and its samples will be sent to the Chemistry Department to ensure that it does not contain prohibited materials.

“After getting the results from the lab, we will submit it to the Islamic Advancement Department and the National Fatwa Council for them to give their views. It is not for them to approve as reported by some media. After it is completed we will submit a full report to the PSC,” Wan Ahmad was quoted as saying in Sinar Harian .

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