So, is it indelible or not? asks Ambiga

Bersih wants Election Commission to alleviate voters' doubts by making public the preliminary results of its indelible ink

PETALING JAYA: Bersih 2.0 has urged the Election Commission (EC) to release the preliminary results of its indelible ink to quash voters’ doubts on its efficiency.

The electoral watchdog group also urged the EC to release the guidelines given to its staff on the use of the ink, which several parties have claimed could be washed off in minutes.

EC secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said the reason why the ink could easily be removed was because of the failure by the staff to follow procedures.

The EC has since held a public demonstration to prove that the ink, which is applied to the index finger after a vote is cast, could last despite washing the finger several times.

“It is good that the EC is doing a demonstration on the use of indelible ink but we have serious concerns over the reasoning given by the EC as to why it could be washed off in the first place,” Bersih co-chair S Ambiga told a press conference here.

“Therefore, I think it is important for the EC to disclose to the public the guidelines given to the staff on the use of the ink. We need to know what the ink is about,” she added.

Ambiga said Bersih had approached the EC prior to advance voting to ensure that the ink was indeed, indelible. The said the ink was “100% effective” following their internal tests.

“They said everything was okay during the test, but now this is happening. So they should reveal their test results,” she said.

“Is it indelible or not?” she asked. “So far their explanation is not satisfactory at all.”

During the EC’s demo today, Kamaruddin admitted that the indelible ink may not last 100% on a person’s finger should they attempt to wash it away using various means.

However, he assured that the ink stain would remain around the nail of the index finger once applied between five to seven days.