YOURSAY 'At least, publicly name the supplier immediately so that anyone who wishes to test the ink can do so.'

EC okays indelible ink and advance voting for GE13

KSD: Apologies in advance, but the current confidence level the public has in Malaysian public institutions requires independent outside parties to verify the efficacy of the indelible inks that will be used.

Election Commission (EC), please give the types of indelible ink that will be used to other parties for testing. Or at least, publicly name the supplier of the ink immediately so that anyone who wishes to test the ink can do so.

Ferdtan: The credibility of EC is so affected that the people just cannot believe when the public institution comes out with a minor reform in approving the use of indelible ink for GE13.

While it is good that EC has finally agreed to use the indelible ink as it was one of the Bersih's eight demands. But we are not sure of the EC's other reforms and recommendations for advance voting.

Don't blame us but we just don't trust the EC any more. It may seem that they may have given an inch but in fact taken a yard.

Questions: Who decides the people/groups qualified as advance voters? Will there be independent scrutineers at the time of voting?

Will the type of ink used be reliable? Since EC is keeping secret on the type of ink to be used - can we be sure that there are no 'removal solutions' readily available for that type of indelible ink?

Unless and until we get the clear answers to the many doubts, the EC will still remain suspect as a fair 'referee'.

Steven Choong: If the EC is determined to be an independent body as established by the federal constitution for the registration of electors and the conduct of elections, then it must do whatever is possible to cast away the doubts of the public over its independence.

To begin with, just accept the recommendations of the PSC (parliamentary select committee) and then prioritise them. Then have an action plan announced to the public so that the public can help in monitoring the progress of implementation.

Any difficulties in implementation must quickly be made known to the public and allow the public to give suggestions.

The PSC's recommendation to remove the serial number from the ballot paper should be ignored.

If the reason is to ensure that secrecy of voting is preserved, then implement a procedure to compel the second EC's clerk to issue the ballot paper in random order - it will ensure that no one would know who a voter voted for.

Serial numbers are vital to ensure no ballot stuffing.

Kgen: Dear (EC chief) Abdul Aziz Yusof, please don't try the old trick of bringing in postal votes after the first count shows that BN has lost by a small margin, and then reversing the result.

This may have been tolerated in the old days, but not now with the new political awareness and the hot fight between BN and Pakatan Rakyat.

Postal votes should be declared before the vote counting starts and not after BN has lost. Do that one more time and the people will tear the counting centre apart. Take note before you start a riot.

Changeagent: Indelible ink with secret specifications. That sounds suspicious already.

Chandran Sukumaran: Will all military men and their spouses, police and spouses of Pasukan Gerakan Am (General Operations Force) be advance voters unless they are on duty and apply for postal voting?

Will they be marked with indelible ink? If not, I smell a rat.

Voice: For many years, Muslims have ‘sapu' (applied) perfume, ointment, cream, etc, on their bodies and all this are in thousands of brands and manufactured from every part of the world.

This is only part of it. Not to mention other things that might have accidentally or temporarily touch the body, like pen inks, pencil colours, paint and many more liquid materials. All this together also make up thousands of brands.

Do all of the above have to go through National Fatwa Council as well? Why is the EC so worried about indelible ink?

AkuDahUbah: I have lost so much faith that even when reforms are announced, I am filled with skepticism and disbelief. Why does the advance voting need to be held over several days?

The longer it is, the higher the chance of fraud and ballot stuffing. See what I mean by loss of credibility?

This is still but a small step towards electoral reforms. The gerrymandering of the constituency needs to be rectified for meaningful representation of the will of the rakyat.

Garrulous Gary: So what was the problem that prevented the EC from agreeing to the use of indelible ink when it was first suggested? Why do we have to drag the EC, screaming and kicking, to reach this conclusion?

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