Anwar Looking Desperate as He Lodges Police Report on Indelible Ink

Parti Keadilan Rakyat 'advisor' Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lodged a police report against the Election Commission regarding the indelible ink used to mark voters on May 5.
He claimed the chosen ink was ineffective and that by 5 pm he had been able to wash the substance clean from his finger.

"I voted at 9.30 am in Kubang Semang in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency. I washed my finger marked with the indelible ink at 5 pm of the same day and the stain was washed off," he said.
We won't dwell on the fact that this would have left Anwar precious little time to try voting again, but it is worth noting nonetheless just how seriously the Election Commission is taking the matter.

Deputy Chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that the fact that some people had managed to scrub the ink from their finger was not a cause for serious concern, though he acknowledged that 'some parties' would try to blow the matter out of proportion for political purposes.

"Ink is an added element to the general election, which has an existing strict regulations and law in place," he explained, noting the numerous other protocols in place that were capable of ensuring clean elections.
"It is impossible for a voter to vote for a second time. There are no duplications in the electoral registration," he said.

"The EC was surprised when the indelible ink was washable as when we tested it was indelible. However we have formed a committee to study on its defects."

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had earlier said on May 21 that a special taskforce had been set up with the express purpose of looking into claims that the indelible ink stains did not have the lifespan they were promised.

Various possibilities have been put forward by the EC including incorrect application of the ink, which came with very specific instructions.

"There is a proper way of using the ink ... the bottle will have to be shaken and double coat is advised. However, we are unsure if all levels (of) election volunteers adhered to the instructions," Wan Ahmad said.
"Without investigations, we do not want to jump into conclusions."

Wan Amhad and his colleagues certainly don't want to jump to conclusions, but for Anwar Ibrahim, increasingly unpredictable accusations seem to be all he has left.

On his current path, the only stain that likely to be left after Anwar's imagined indelible ink controversy will be an ugly smear across his reputation.