Ink Sinks.

It wasn't too long ago when election commission of malaysia (EC) promised the use of indelible ink for elections to combat phantom voters. That was after years and years of both BN and opposition parties crying foul over this huge issue. The idea was ink that could not be washed off for at least 2 weeks would be used to make a mark on the voter's finger so that those who have already voted can be identified and not permitted to double-vote.

Then at the 11th hour, Mr Rashid decides to take a U-turn. The same guy who was offered an extra year of contract as EC chairman by BN's domination in parliament.

Fishy? I say it's probably fishier than Manhattan's Fish Market.

But wait till you hear another classic Malaysian reply from the man himself.

" Following legal advice and looking at the issue of public order and security, the commission decided not to proceed with its proposal to introduce the use of indelible ink".

Their elaboration on that? Apparently people have been buying ink in malaysia. and EC and their 'legal advisors' predict that certain people will bribe some people to have their fingers dipped in ink so that they will not be eligible to vote.

I need a statistician here. Is it more probable that phantom voters get away with pens and our horrible electoral role with many people above the age of 100 (last i checked, life expectancy in Malaysia was below 70, those 'extremely elderly people' would definitely have raised that, or perhaps the rest of us just happen to die young.), or Malaysians get conned into dipping their fingers in ink? I wonder...

But more disturbingly, EC should have looked through every aspect before approving such a proposal. They could have at least clean up the electoral roll, instead of giving the rakyat shocking news day after day of reports on fake, duplicated identities.

Sorry about the more and more political posts. Charis will be back to normal...soon. :)