Amending the election regulations, says PSC chairman Maximus Ongkili, will allow the EC to implement it.
KUALA LUMPUR: An amendment to the election regulations will be sufficient to implement the use of indelible ink on voters, said the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms.
According to PSC chairman Maxmimus Ongkili, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail revealed this when clarifying his earlier stand that the move would require a constitutional amendment.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, he said: “Gani explained that it can be done both ways.”
Ongkili added that the AG’s letter to the PSC and Election Commission two weeks ago was vague but the AG conveyed his views on the issue at the committee meeting this morning.
“We are satisfied with his explanation,” he said, adding that Gani had been requested to submit another letter by Monday and the PSC would make a decision after this.
The AG, however, declined to comment, beyond saying that it was a “good meeting”.
The EC mooted the usage of indelible ink for the 2008 general election, after purchasing it for RM2.4 million from India, but ditched the plan at the eleventh hour citing security concerns.
The opposition and election watchdogs, such as Bersih 2.0, believe that using the ink would curb electoral fraud.
Automatic registration
Meanwhile, Ongkili said today’s meeting also discussed the procedure for automatic registration of
voters.
On this, he added, the AG opined that it would require constitutional amendments.
The automatic registeration of voters who reach the age of 21 was among the eight demands of Bersih 2.0, whose massive street protest in July led to the government setting up the PSC.
The PSC is scheduled to hold its next hearing on Nov 25 and 26 at Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
It completed its two-day public hearing in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 11 and 12.
KUALA LUMPUR: An amendment to the election regulations will be sufficient to implement the use of indelible ink on voters, said the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms.According to PSC chairman Maxmimus Ongkili, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail revealed this when clarifying his earlier stand that the move would require a constitutional amendment.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, he said: “Gani explained that it can be done both ways.”
Ongkili added that the AG’s letter to the PSC and Election Commission two weeks ago was vague but the AG conveyed his views on the issue at the committee meeting this morning.
“We are satisfied with his explanation,” he said, adding that Gani had been requested to submit another letter by Monday and the PSC would make a decision after this.
The AG, however, declined to comment, beyond saying that it was a “good meeting”.
The EC mooted the usage of indelible ink for the 2008 general election, after purchasing it for RM2.4 million from India, but ditched the plan at the eleventh hour citing security concerns.
The opposition and election watchdogs, such as Bersih 2.0, believe that using the ink would curb electoral fraud.
Automatic registration
Meanwhile, Ongkili said today’s meeting also discussed the procedure for automatic registration of
On this, he added, the AG opined that it would require constitutional amendments.
The automatic registeration of voters who reach the age of 21 was among the eight demands of Bersih 2.0, whose massive street protest in July led to the government setting up the PSC.
The PSC is scheduled to hold its next hearing on Nov 25 and 26 at Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
It completed its two-day public hearing in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 11 and 12.
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