Only 3 people know colour of indelible ink - EC

The Election Commission believes the colour of the indelible ink to be used in next Sunday's general election still remains a closely-guarded secret to prevent the ink from being duplicated.

Only three people knew the ink's colour, commission secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said today.

He said two of the individuals are the commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof and himself. He, however, declined to reveal the name of the third person.

"So, I believe the colour of the indelible ink will remain a closely-kept secret until polling day next Sunday," he told reporters here today.

Kamaruddin said the ink's unique colour, which was different from other available indelible inks in the market, would enable EC officials to identify if there were voters marked with other inks.

"The substances used to produce the ink are also different from the ordinary, hence it cannot be duplicated or faked," he said.

On the people's concern that the ink might dirty the ballot papers, rendering the ballots as spoilt votes, Kamaruddin said if this happens before the voter marked the ballot paper, he or she could ask for a fresh ballot.

However, the voter needs to fill up a form first, he said.

"The indelible ink to be used is the type that will dry quickly. In fact, the EC will provide tissue paper to wipe the stains that have not dried.

"I advise voters not to allow anyone to make markings with any ink on the index finger before voting as only EC officials are empowered to do so," he added.