until the last moment.
Much had been written in Malaysiakini on the Election Commission’s latest u-turn or shock reversal on the use of indelible ink.
It would have been expected or even understandable if a new Election Commission Chairman, who happens to be incompetent, were indecisive. But Rashid had 6 GEs of experience and this is going to be his 7th! The public perception of him seems to be that of a glorified civil servant at the beck and call of the ruling party.
If the EC Chairman had all along been independent and efficient, taking charge of another GE should have been smooth running, including any new rules and regulations that had to be implemented. There appears to be some sort of interference by way of suggestions and/or disapproval coming from the ruling party.
The introduction of transparent voting boxes to represent transparency in the voting process was already comical. Then we were told of the introduction of ‘indelible ink’ costing a few millions and there was even publicity in the papers on the features and rules. Suddenly, just 3 days before election, it was announced that it was cancelled. $millions down the drain.
Before this, there was a new requirement that polling agents must be registered by last Friday, unlike before when it could be done just before the election started. Po Kuan reassured me that there was a briefing with EC and they have agreed that the old rules apply because the opposition relies mainly on volunteers at the last the minute. But why confuse people unnecessarily?
Earlier there was a statement of a strict enforcement on the rule requiring the Hasil stamp for nomination purposes. Then again, it was retracted!
It is amazing how the rules keep changing and retracting. I still remember the last election when the ‘hot tents’ were initially banned until the last minute when it was allowed! I was disgusted when I saw BN men setting them up as I entered the voting centre.
I am wondering what else they are coming up with in the next couple of days!
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