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Indelible ink 'fatwa' merely a ruse
Published:  Dec 3, 2011 8:14 AM
Updated: Dec 7, 2011 5:22 AM

YOURSAY 'Yesterday Egyptians went to the polls and indelible ink was used without any fuss. Over 90 percent of Egyptians are Muslims.'

EC ready to use indelible ink

your say Queenie: I get the funny feeling that the National Fatwa Council will eventually pass an edict that the use of indelible ink is ‘haram' and a no-go.

I take it this only applies to Muslims. What about the non-Muslims? Will the EC use the indelible ink in the voting process for non-Muslims?

Anyway, I think the whole issue is utterly ridiculous and that some party or parties would go to no end to ensure indelible ink will not be used. I wonder why.

Anonymous: Yesterday Egyptians voted in free elections for the first time for more than 30 years and indelible ink was used without any fuss. Over 90 percent of Egyptians are Muslims.

By Election Fan : Does the EC report to the National Fatwa Council? What has the ink got to do with them? I bet something fishy is going on.

Agreeing to use indelible ink is just a smokescreen. It will never materialise as they are now bringing religion into it. If the indelible ink is not allowed on Muslims, how about the use of ‘inai' (henna) by Muslim ladies?

What's the difference between the two?

FellowMalaysian: I believe the National Fatwa Council will not object for the same reason they have not ruled against the use of facial cosmetics, hair dyes or even plastic surgeries. Moreover, the ink does not stain permanently; they will wear off after a few showers.

RR: Some of the Muslim fanatics are ridiculing their own religion with absurdity. This is not the first time they made the world laugh at their idiotic logic.

The majority of Muslims must speak up to shut these idiots from ridiculing and belittling their religion.

They do not seem to know the greater sins committed, such as corruption and abuse of the rakyat's funds, compared to this simple thing like the use of an ink identification at the elections.

Supercession: Since when is the EC beholden to the National Fatwa Council?

Proarte: The indelible ink 'controversy' is a bogus non-issue and is a clear example of how Islam is used as a fig leaf to commit injustice and fraud. It also shows us that the Umno elite who condone, nay, need electoral fraud in order to survive, rightly or wrongly regard most Malays as having a meaningless and superficial understanding of Islam.

If the Malays really understood Islam, this whole disquiet over indelible ink would be seen as a major insult to their intelligence and their faith. Surely the purpose of indelible ink is to help ensure that the will of the rakyat prevails.

Prevention of fraud and injustice is an Islamic 'jihad'. Let us hope the Fatwa Council do not make Islam an obstacle to democracy in Malaysia.

Malayamuda: They are afraid of ink, but not afraid of corruption and cheating and stealing.

Jeremy Ng: The BN cronies and dummies are getting more and more incredible. Incredible in spinning, twisting, turning and manipulating - for them, vote cheating is less ‘haram' than the ink.

All Malaysians, especially the Malays, must wake up in the name of God to stop Umno and BN from its continuous cheating and corruption.

Free & Fair Election: Even if Prime Minister Najib Razak gives his personal guarantee, I will not believe that the use of the indelible ink will happen.

The rakyat has been taken for a ride by the PM too many times. Until it happens, it is just another feel-good statement.

This information is from Wikipedia : "Electoral stain typically contains a pigment for instant recognition, and silver nitrate which stains the skin on exposure to ultraviolet light, leaving a mark that is impossible to wash off and is only removed as external skin cells are replaced.

"Industry standard electoral inks contain 10%, 14% or 18% silver nitrate solution, depending on the length of time the mark is required to be visible.

"Although normally water-based, electoral stains occasionally contain a solvent such as alcohol to allow for faster drying, especially when used with dipping bottles, which may also contain a biocide to ensure bacteria aren't transferred from voter to voter."

There is nothing to halal or non-halal about the indelible Let's see what these morons say next.

Open Minded: This is like trying to do 'teh tarik' in outer space!

The indelible ink has been used in India for a long time and the country has a huge Muslim population.

Today, a lot of countries used it too to avoid electoral fraud. If I remember correctly, Indonesia used it in Aceh in the last election and now even the Middle Eastern countries have follow suit.

Therefore, there is no excuse to ban the indelible ink on any grounds and create more suspicion and disgust and backlash.

Senior Citizen: Okay, if the use of indelible ink during voting needs the National Fatwa Council's approval, then what is it stopping the EC? Just go to their office and get their approval.

This case is not rocket science that needs nuclear scientists to conduct a 10-year research before a finding is announced to the world.

The same goes to allowing overseas voters. Just get it done. Logistics is never a problem. There are hundreds of Malaysian embassies and high commissions around the world.

The EC must have the will power to do it. Stop procrastinating.

Lynn: They probably took so long to agree to this very simple indelible ink thing because they were trying to find a loophole, which they probably have now found.

 


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