Toh Ah Mei, or more fondly known as Aunty Ah Mei, felt betrayed and deceived when the Election Commission, in a shock decision, decided to scrap the usage of indelible ink for Saturday’s polls.

As a sign of protest, the 66-year old lifetime DAP member decided to shave her head bald to send a message to the people.

women shaving head spr protest 060308 shaving The EC on Wednesday announced that it would not introduce the use indelible ink claiming that it had uncovered a plot by unnamed parties to ‘sabotage’ the polls by using smuggled ink to mark unsuspecting voters before they cast their ballot. The commission said this would have caused widespread confusion on polling day.

Nancy Khong, standing on a PKR opposition ticket for the Semambu state seat said that Aunty Ah Mei also felt that Pahang had not been attended to by the Barisan Nasional government during the past four years.

"There is no development in Pahang and Aunty Ah Mei hopes that the rakyat realises this and make the right decision on Saturday," she told reporters while watching Aunty Ah Mei’s being shaved at a brief cremony in Kuantan.

Third time

Aunty Ah Mei went down on her knees and offered a prayer before her crowning glory was shaved off. Also present were Pahang PKR election candidates - Fuziah Salleh ( Kuantan , parliamentary seat), Azan Ismail ( Indera Mahkota parliamentary seat), and Siew Fook Chin ( Teruntum state seat).

women shaving head spr protest 060308 banner This is the third time Aunty Ah Mei has shaved off her locks. She first resorted to the act as a mark of protest when DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng was detained without trial under ISA in October 1987.

Aunty Ah Mei was compelled to demonstrate her disapproval again during the SJK(C) Damansara's ‘Save Our School’ (SOS) mass signature campaign in 2001.

The sprightly lady said she will also be observing a three-day fast beginning today. "It is my hope and prayer that the ISA-detained Hindraf leaders will be released soon."

The EC decision to scrap the usage of indelible ink has also resulted independent polls watchdog Mafrel announcing their withdrawal as EC-accredited observers.