Fatwa on indelible ink use out today

National Fatwa Council to decide if it’s ‘halal’ for Muslim voters

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Fatwa Council will decide on the use of Election Commission's (EC) new indelible ink today.

In a muzakarah (special meeting)  at 10am in Islamic Development Department (Jakim) office in Putrajaya, the council members will be presented with the result of the ink's analysis by EC and Chemistry Department representatives.

 

National Fatwa Council secretary Datuk Othman Mustapha said the council  had recently received the result from Chemistry Department, and would discuss whether the ingredients and usage of the indelible ink are allowed according to Islamic laws.

 

"We have also invited the EC and Chemistry Department to brief us on the ink's usage and analysis findings to council members before the meeting," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

When asked if a decision and fatwa could be issued after the meeting, Othman said it would depend on the discussion between the council's 22 members.

 

"If the council finds that another analysis or test should be conducted, then it will take some time before a new fatwa can be issued," said Othman, who is also Jakim director-general.

 

Voters would be required to have their fingers marked with indelible ink when voting in the next general election in order to prevent multiple voting.

 

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the commission would be represented by three senior officers to demonstrate the ink's use  should the need arises.

 

The representatives are EC secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria, his deputy (elections), Datuk Noordin Che Ngah, and its legal advisor, Mohd Azhar Mohd Yusoff. 

 

"The representatives will brief the National Fatwa Council members on the use of this new ink before the members meet," he said.

 

"Should the council need a demonstration on how the ink is going to be used in the next election, the representatives will show  them how to do it.

 

"They will also bring a sample of the ink to the meeting," he added.

 

When asked if the demonstration could jeopardise the confidentiality of the new ink,  Aziz said they would not be revealing the real method or colour of the ink that would be used in the next general election.

 

Aziz also said  he was optimistic that the indelible ink's usage would get the  nod from the National Fatwa Council, as analysis had found that the ingredients in the ink did not contain any non-halal substance or interfere in a Muslim's ibadah.

 

"We have also received the result of the analysis from the Chemistry Department, and I am  positive about this meeting as I feel that the ink adheres to  Islamic law.

 

"However, we will leave it to the council to decide, as they are the experts in Islamic law and know better," he said.

 

It was reported that the EC would be introducing a new type of indelible ink to be used in the next general election.

 

In 2008, the commission had introduced a type of indelible ink, which received the green light from the National Fatwa Council, but its usage was cancelled because of  the potential for a  security breach.

 

It is learnt that  police had warned EC of attempts by several quarters to tamper with the 2008 general election by bringing in ink illegally.