The Election Commission (EC) today moved to allay skepticism over the credibility of indelible ink introduced for the first time this general election.
EC secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria (pix) said a demonstration on the use of the indelible ink will be held for media personnel at its headquarters in Putrajaya tomorrow to dispel allegations that the ink could be easily washed off or removed.
"To me, indelible ink is not permanent ink ... I will even let you (media) try and wash (it off) with acid. (But) it should not be done to that extent (unless) there is intention to discredit the EC," said Kamaruddin, when contacted yesterday.
Skepticism over the indelibility of the ink arose after several military personnel claimed the ink used on them when they voted as advance voters on Tuesday was removable.
The EC has since explained that the reported incidences of the indelible ink being removed occurred only because some of its officers failed to follow instructions for its usage, which is to shake the bottle first.
"It is like when you take medicine (syrup) ... you need to shake the bottle first because otherwise the sediments would settle at the bottom, leaving it very diluted at the top," he said.
He said, acting on the complaints and police reports on the issue, the EC had issued a standard operating procedure to its officers to strictly follow during polling this Sunday.
Election watchdog Pemantau on Tuesday claimed its observers at several polling stations had received complaints from advance voters that the ink stain on their index fingers could be removed using various cleaning agents, barely hours after they voted, contrary to EC's assurance that it would last beyond May 5.
PKR vice-presidents Chua Tian Chang and Nurul Izzah Anwar had also lodged separate police reports over the issue.
Kamaruddin said following the complaints, the EC had also conducted several tests on its own officers who had cast their ballots via post.
"We found that ink stain from a bottle of ink that has been shaken following the correct procedure lasted longer on their fingers than the mark from an unshaken bottle."
He also stressed that no person will be able to cast their ballot twice even if they can remove the ink stain, as the names of all advance voters are deleted and will not appear in the ordinary voters' list on May 5.
Asked to comment on a reported attempt by unidentified individuals to mark a voter's finger with "indelible" ink, Kamaruddin said only EC officers will know the colour of the ink to be used on Sunday.
"As long as their name has not been struck from the roll, we will allow them to vote," he said, noting that the reported incident appears to be an attempt by certain quarters to cast doubt on the electoral process and discredit the EC.
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