Indelible ink details under wraps, says EC TIGHT LID: Precautionary measures taken to prevent sabotage

The New Straits Times

A SOLITARY Election Commission officer has been tasked with procuring indelible ink to be delivered to polling stations a day ahead of polling in the next general election.

No one else in the country knows anything about the indelible ink.

Details ranging from the type of ink, brand, bottle design, colour to its characteristics, or even how voters are marked using the ink, are being kept under wraps, the Election Commission said yesterday.

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said as an added security feature, its officers nationwide would use a uniform technique when marking voters before they collect the ballot papers.

"It could help EC officers detect if a voter was marked by an officer, or by someone with ill intent," he added.

Wan Ahmad said that the EC had looked into the possibility of using indelible ink in the 2008 general election.

He added that there had been police reports then on indelible ink being smuggled into the country several weeks ahead of polling day.

"Calling off the use of indelible ink at the last minute then was the best available decision and not because of government pressure," he said.

The ink option was one of the recommendations put forth by the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, one that has been accepted by the EC.

Speaking at a media briefing here, Wan Ahmad said the EC would be ready to facilitate the coming general election as early as January, once all officers have completed their training.

At the briefing, Wan Ahmad urged the media to ensure that their reports on the general election were balanced.

He encouraged the media to publish the election manifestos of both sides.

"The media must not campaign, but report.

"They need to create an environment that would help voters cast informed votes."