NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON’T
NO INK AND RM 2,000.000 DOWN THE DRAIN
BERNAMA on line reported today, 04 March 2008 at 17:10 (5:10 PM)
“EC Scraps Indelible Ink Plan
PUTRAJAYA, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Election Commission Tuesday cancelled plan to use indelible ink in the upcoming general election.”
-- BERNAMA
45 minutes later at 17:55, THE STAR on line reported:
Tuesday March 4, 2008
“EC cancels use of indelible ink
PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission has cancelled the use of indelible ink in polling this Saturday, citing public order and security reasons.
Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said following a meeting held Tuesday, the EC was obliged to make a firm and final decision to ensure the smooth conduct of the 12th general election.
He said provisions to the law needed if the ink was to be used still could not affect the constitutional right of a voter to cast his vote, even a person whose fingernail had been marked with indelible ink or one who refuses to have his or her fingernail marked this way.
"From a practical point of view, the issuance of a ballot paper to such a voter would render the EC's proposal meaningless and will not bring about a positive result, whilst having the potential to create misunderstanding as well as altercations and arguments at polling stations," he said.
The Federal Constitution gives you the right to vote, and a black mark on your fingernail should not bar you from exercising this right, he said.
Abdul Rashid said there were also reports made to the police confirming that certain irresponsible quarters had purchased indelible ink from abroad with the intention of creating confusion and suspicion as to the status of voters.
"The EC views these issues seriously as the election process and public order and security cannot be compromised," he said.
The use of indelible ink was first proposed last June to safeguard against multiple or phantom voting. Abdul Rashid then said that the system would be subject to amendments to the Election (Conduct of Election) Regulation 1981.
He said indelible ink had been chosen over other measures, such as a biometric system working off the MyKad (chip-based identity card carried by all Malaysians above the age of 12) because such such smartcard readers would have cost about RM60,000 each, and every voting stream would have to be equipped with one. Using such a system would have cost in excess of RM30mil. The commission bought about 47,000 bottles of the indelible ink, manufactured in
Four hours later BERNAMA reports
March 04, 2008 21:58 PM
“Police Uncover Attempt To Create Confusion During Polls
PUTRAJAYA, March 4 (Bernama) -- Police have uncovered an attempt by some irresponsible people out to create a confusion during Saturday's elections by having voters dipped their fingers in indelible ink before the polling day.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said four individuals had lodged police reports alleging that there were people buying such ink from overseas and planning to persuade misinformed voters to use it before the polls.
One report was received in Kelantan, one in Kedah and two in Perlis from Feb 16 to 21, and police had classified them as attempted cheating, he told reporters here today.
He said the allegation was found to be true but so far, no arrests had been made as the police were still identifying the people involved based on the statements recorded from by the complainants, aged between 30 and 50, who were traders and self-employed.
Asked whether the complainants were from political parties, he said: "I don't know but they are locals."
When asked how soon the case was expected to be solved, he said: "I am trying to get all the assistance on this.
"We have interviewed the individuals. We want to know where they obtain the information."
He said police were also trying to ascertain where the ink came from.”
-- BERNAMA
THE PLOT THICKENS
What is going on?
This all sounds rather fishy, it seems that something else stinks in the State of
Does the BN consider that there is a risk of it losing the magical 2/3 majority?
Is this a last minute ploy to enable phantom voters to vote, so that the votes for BN can be padded?
There will now be serious doubts that the Malaysian General Election on Saturday 8th March 2008 will be free and fair.
There is now a greater possibility that voting for both the Federal Parliamentary and the State Legislature Elections will be more easily gerrymandered.
Two fingers to the voters
BEWARE OF THE ISA TOO!!
Vote wisely!
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