KUALA LUMPUR, July 12- The Election Commission (EC) will not reveal the name of the supplier of an indelible ink for the Kuala Besut by-election to avoid the matter from being manipulated by irresponsible quarters, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the colour of the indelible ink would also not be known until the polling day.
“If we were to disclose the information, errant voters will buy an ink of that colour and dip their finger.
“They will line up at polling stations and ask for ballot papers, claiming that their finger had been dipped into the indelible ink. This is for security reason,” he said when winding up debate on the royal address.
On complaints against the indelible ink used during the 13th general election (GE13), he said the authorities received 1,469 complaints or only 0.0113 per cent of the 13 million voters.
“I suspect that certain malicious people had applied chemicals on their fingers to remove the ink,” he said.
Shahidan said the government had spent RM7.1 million to purchase indelible ink, bottles and brushes for GE13.
On another note, he said the government was willing to reconsider a proposal to increase the Members of Parliament allowance at the next session of the Dewan Rakyat provided it was agreed by all members.
– BERNAMA
