Gerakan's Baljit Singh is all for the use of indelible ink to change the public's perception that Barisan Nasional 'always cheats to win.'
Baljit Singh, who heads the Penang Gerakan legal and human rights bureau, said the use of indelible ink would once and for all change the public’s image of the Election Commission and do a big favour to Barisan Nasional.
“It will eliminate the perception that our electoral process is being marred by money politics, voter fraud, vote rigging and phantom voters. It will allay public fear of electoral malpractices.,” he told FMT.
He noted that the BN has frequently been accused of committing various electoral malpractices to secure ‘illegitimate’ victory to stay in power .
Baljit believes that indelible ink would do more good than harm to BN.
“Indelible ink will undoubtedly boost BN’s political status and lent credence to its election victory,” said Baljit.
He said EC should accept the Bersih 2.0′s demand to have indelible ink assisted balloting process in the next general election.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz has said that the government had no plans to introduce indelible ink.
EC deputy chairman, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar dismissed Bersih’s demand for indelible ink as “regressive not progressive.”
Critics have claimed that EC did not want to use indelible ink because BN might lose in a free and fair election.
Baljit said BN need not worry about losing or winning in a free and fair election if the coalition believed it has strong public backing.
He insisted that it was not a foregone conclusion that Pakatan Rakyat would capture Putrajaya if indelible ink was used.
“Whoever wins or loses, public perception would be that the electoral process was conducted in free, fair and clean manner. In the end, it’s a victory for democracy and the people,” said Baljit .
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