Early voters prove ink truly indelible

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WE’VE VOTED: Policemen show their fingers marked with indelible ink after they have cast their votes at the Tabuan Jaya police complex in Kuching. — Photo by Chimon Upon

STILL VISIBLE: Photos show a voter using a sanitising wipe to remove the ink.

STILL VISIBLE: Photos show the still-stained nail after cleaning.

Policemen who voted yesterday show reporters the ink cannot be removed

KUCHING: Police personnel who voted at the Tabuan Jaya police station here yesterday showed the press that the ink painted on their left index fingernails could not be removed by washing or other means.

They were among security forces personnel who cast their votes early as they would have to man polling centres and ensure law and order during polling on May 5.

Their experience has debunked claims posted on the Internet that the ink for those who voted early could be washed off to allow them to vote again this Sunday.

A team from The Borneo Post went to the police station and tried to remove the ink on the left index fingers of a few policemen using water, which some Internet postings had claimed was possible.

Despite their efforts, the reporters could not get rid of the ink, much to the amusement of the policemen.

Those who had their fingernails marked said the ink had a distinct smell and that it could not be removed by washing.

The wife of an army personnel residing in Siburan near here, who also cast her vote yesterday, tried to use a hand sanitising wipe on her nail but failed to remove the ink.

“I found that it was impossible to get rid of the stains using water and other detergent,” she told The Borneo Post.

When contacted, State Election Commission director Datuk Takun Sunggah said early voting had gone smoothly.

He reiterated that the ink used at all polling stations yesterday for security forces personnel and every voter this Sunday is indeed indelible.

“Even if we wash our hands, the stains will still remain there for a while even if they are a bit faded, it is quite impossible to wash it off totally,” he said.

Takun appealed to all parties not to turn the ink into an issue.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had said that the use of indelible ink was introduced to prevent repeat voting, which some parties claimed had happened in past elections although the allegations were never proven.

Abdul Aziz also said the colour of the ink to be used on polling day would only be known on the day itself.

He also dismissed fears that the ink might smudge voting slips and spoil the vote as the ink is fast drying.


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