Former parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform member Anthony Loke wants the Election Commission (EC) to name to supplier of the indelible ink used in yesterday's general election so that it can be held accountable.
He also slammed the EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar for trying to brush off the easily washable ‘scandal' of the ink by saying that voters could not vote multiple times in spite of the ink not working as claimed by the EC.
"I think they have spent a few million ringgit on it, and it has all gone to waste.
"But more importantly, it casts doubts about the election among voters, as to whether the election was conducted in a free and fair manner, and whether anyone could have voted two times yesterday," Loke (left) told a press conference yesterday.
The ink was used in the country for the first time yesterday, in the 13th general election. Its use was among electoral reform movment Bersih's demands and a recommendation of the PSC as a means to prevent people from voting multiple times under false identities.
However, many voters soon found that the ink was in fact easily removable, even though it was supposed to remain on the index finger for at least a week. Its removal was so successful that in some cases that it left little or no trace of the ink.
He also slammed the EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar for trying to brush off the easily washable ‘scandal' of the ink by saying that voters could not vote multiple times in spite of the ink not working as claimed by the EC.
"I think they have spent a few million ringgit on it, and it has all gone to waste."But more importantly, it casts doubts about the election among voters, as to whether the election was conducted in a free and fair manner, and whether anyone could have voted two times yesterday," Loke (left) told a press conference yesterday.
The ink was used in the country for the first time yesterday, in the 13th general election. Its use was among electoral reform movment Bersih's demands and a recommendation of the PSC as a means to prevent people from voting multiple times under false identities.
However, many voters soon found that the ink was in fact easily removable, even though it was supposed to remain on the index finger for at least a week. Its removal was so successful that in some cases that it left little or no trace of the ink.
Loke, who is the newly-minted Seremban MP, also slammed the EC for not following procedures during the election.
He said some counting agents, especially in marginal seats like Labis, Bentong and Cameron Highlands, have complained that they were not issued a copy of the Borang 14, which records the official and final tally of votes in a polling stream.
“This is another thing that happens without fail in every election. We have stressed time and again in PSC meetings that the EC must ensure that every polling centre chief must be well-versed in this - that Borang 14 must be given to all counting agents.
“But again it happened. Why is this important? In marginal seats the difference is just a few hundred votes, one mistake or intentional manipulation on the Borang 14 would cost us a parliamentary seat,” he said.
In addition, he said there were also cases where candidates or his election agent were not given free access to the EC’s restricted areas, such as counting centres.
Loke said Pakatan Rakyat would study each of these complaints for the possibility of filing an election petition.
He said some counting agents, especially in marginal seats like Labis, Bentong and Cameron Highlands, have complained that they were not issued a copy of the Borang 14, which records the official and final tally of votes in a polling stream.
“This is another thing that happens without fail in every election. We have stressed time and again in PSC meetings that the EC must ensure that every polling centre chief must be well-versed in this - that Borang 14 must be given to all counting agents.
“But again it happened. Why is this important? In marginal seats the difference is just a few hundred votes, one mistake or intentional manipulation on the Borang 14 would cost us a parliamentary seat,” he said.
In addition, he said there were also cases where candidates or his election agent were not given free access to the EC’s restricted areas, such as counting centres.
Loke said Pakatan Rakyat would study each of these complaints for the possibility of filing an election petition.
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