No more indelible ink?

The government is prepared to consider the suggestion for the scrapping of the indelible ink and changing to the biometric system for the general election.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the proposal to use the indelible ink came from the opposition and implemented by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in the 13th general election (GE13) but its implementation later was disputed by the opposition itself.

"The suggestion on the use of indelible ink came from the Honourable Member of Parliament for Gombak (Mohamed Azmin Ali) in the committee (Special Select Committee On Electoral Reforms), we just followed, whereas the EC (Election Commission) had suggested the biometric (system) so that the thumb print is used where there is no escape.

"This (biometric) suggestion is the best, we will ensure that the matter is discussed," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill (2012) 2013 at the committee stage at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, here today.

Tan Sri Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh), when suggesting the scrapping of the indelible ink, said the issue and polemic on the use of the indelible ink had been prolonged because the party that had lost in the general election had to find a reason for their defeat.

Referring to the biometric system, Annuar said Malaysia had a comprehensive registration system based on the identity card which had strict security features.

"We had a very good system already but we gave way on the question of the indelible ink. We had adopted the indelible ink, but then there were people who expressed doubt on the validity of their ablution," he said.