Peanuts in, monkeys out
Thursday, March 6th, 2008 | 12:58 am @ SK
Less than a week before the GE 2008, Election Commission (EC) scrapped the use of indelible ink on polling day, citing public order and security issues as the concern.
Notwithstanding the fact that after RM2.4 million was spent to purchase 46,000 bottles of indelible ink from India, there is something which is more ridiculous than dumping the money!
When asked whether a proper study was done before introducing the ink, Abdul Rashid said a study was done on how it was used in other countries.
“In the beginning, we thought it was just an ordinary process that we could just introduce but then we realised, after getting all the necessary advice from the legal experts, that we would have to take a look at the (Federal) Constitution,” he said.
He added that the EC had to examine the other laws and regulations first.
He said Article 119 of the Federal Constitution guaranteed the right of a registered elector to vote and laws providing otherwise should be ultra vires the Constitution.
What an idiot!
As the only body which is responsible in ensuring that election matters are going to be held in proper manner, why didn’t the EC seek "legal advice" then?
I’m sure by now, many of us are puzzled as why were they doing making the mandatory requirement of using indelible ink, placing the order for the ink, taking delivery of the ink and then, 8 months later, tell us they were pulling out because of "legal advice".
If you’re so dumb enough not to carry out the least of your role as a respected body, go sack yourself!
Besides, the fact that the BN’s government proposed to extend the retirement age of EC members from 65 to 66, hence led to the extension of Abdul Rashid’s tenure as the EC Chief for another year before this retirement does make BN’s look like a fool too, in which a negative repercussion among the well-informed voters seem inevitable.
Having said all that, in another word, this is basically what you as a voter has to be held accountable too when you can’t even deny them the 2/3 majority, especially the one you sent into the Parliament to vote for the extension!
Screwed, but true enough on how certain little things are done in this country.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:40 am
One of my blog reader revealed to me on my blog that :
Image of indelible ink from EC webpage
http://www.spr.gov.my/index/berita_semasa/indelible_inkBI.htm
Indelible ink shipped to Cambodia
http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/10/stories/2007031015300500.htm
Same ink in same sized bottles. Shipment circa Sept 2007.
All you Math whizzes out there… do the calculations.. what figure did you get?
1 crore = 10 000 000 rupees.
You go see true or not and tell us, SK. See how much they overspend on those shipment.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
whats new? inflated prices again? WTF, this time total waste.
you now know why they amend the constitution for him?
March 6th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
beautiful title and subject…
the man behind EC indeed being paid peanut, hence behaving like City Monkey.
of course the City has abundance of Monkeys all over, but this EC head is the Baboon sort of Monkey.
see the difference??? go to ASTRO Animal Planet and compare Monkeys and EC Head, and you can sure see similarity!