By Suganya Lingan
SHAH ALAM: For 21 months, Malaysians for Free and Fair Election (Mafrel) has waited for the Election Commission (SPR) to provide evidence supporting its decision against using indelible ink in the 12th General Election.
And while Mafrel waits, the ink has been quietly disposed of.
“It was burnt in accordance with procedures set by government regulations,” Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong told parliament recentl. He said it could not be used because of “security and legal problems.”
Mafrel president Syed Ibrahim Alhabshi said “disposed of or not, the people deserve to know the truth. They must be told who was responsible for the decision to retract the use of the indelible ink in the (12th) general elections in March 2008.”.
He said Marel held a press conference when SPR first announced its decision to retract the use of the ink and had demanded to know the reason behind the decision but received no answers.
“Some Mafrel members even boycotted the monitoring of general election,” he said. “Other groups of people also questioned SPR’s decision. Both SPR and the police promised to act on our queries. But nothing has come out of it.”
He said Mafrel supported the use of the ink during general elections to prevent an “increase in the numbers of eligible voters on polling day.”
Mafrel’s call follows a statement issued by PAS urging SPR to “come up with the truth” following allegations that individuals had reportedly bought the ink illegally for use during GE12. PAS accused SPR of lying and wasting RM2.4 million of public funds.
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