The Election Commission (EC) has formed a special internal team to investigate if there were elements of sabotage in the usage of indelible ink during last month’s general election.

NONE EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar ( right ) stated that the investigation is important to determine why the ink did not last long, and in fact could be easily removed from fingers.

He was quoted in Berita Harian today saying that three commissioners will be given a month to investigate the matter.

“There are many forms of EC staff, and we do not know their intention. Hence, the need for an in-depth investigation to find the truth.”

“Could the indelible ink not last long because of its quality or is it the fault of the EC officer who applied it or are there elements of sabotage? We are puzzled as to why the ink does not last long,” he said.

The indelible ink has been an issue of contention ever since claims first surfaced in late April that the ink applied to the fingers of postal and early voters who casted their votes could be easily washed off after several hours.

Despite assurances by the EC that this was merely the result of the ink bottles not being shaken properly prior to application, the problem repeated on polling day May 5.

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