Malaysiakini reported yesterday that EC chairman Rashid revealed at a seminar that the previous cabinet had directed the cancellation of the use of indelible ink at the last GE.
Rashid is reported to have said :
“I have not told the country about this (before) but what happened was that cabinet rejected our proposed law (on indelible ink) on Feb 13 - the day dissolution of Parliament was done,”
“We do believe that in order to convince people (that we were independent), we have got to do something and the least we could was to agree to the use of indelible ink. We were very serious. We put up a regulation on this and submitted it to the cabinet,”
“I was told that PAS in the east coast bought ink from Thailand. Then Umno came to know (about this) and Umno also bought the ink. This was given to me in black and white by the police and the same report went to the cabinet and they believed that this was happening,”
Malaysiakini also reports that Rashid said that after he ( Rashid ) was informed of the cabinet’s decision to cancel the use of the ink, he was directed to take responsibility for the eleventh hour cancellation of the use of the indelible ink at the last GE.
Rashid put it this way :“And I was called and told about it and I was told to take the whole responsibility for agreeing to the ink. I took the whole responsibility.”
The online Star this morning reports that, in response to Rashid’s shocking revelation, Pak Lah said :
“It was only a suggestion we made to the EC chairman. It was up to him to think it over and agree or to proceed with the original decision to use the ink,”
The Star also reports that Pak Lah clarified that a week before Parliament was dissolved, the cabinet had made the suggestion, giving its reasons why it did not want the ink to be used.
“We had received information that some quarters had bought the ink although they had no authority to do so and we were suspicious that it could be used to cause confusion and complications during the voting process,”, Pak Lah is reported to have said.
The Star also reports that after the ‘no indelible ink decision’ was announced on 4th March, BN leaders, including Pak Lah, had sought an explanation from the EC for the cancellation, and that Pak Lah explained that the Government did not come clean earlier on the indelible ink as the government would be blamed if anything went wrong with the voting process.
Indeed, a Malaysiakini report dated 5th March, 2008 entitled ‘MCA raps commission over indelible ink reversal’ reported the following press statement issued by MCA elections operations advisor Wong Mook Leong in relation to the eleventh hour cancellation of the use of the ink.
“MCA is disappointed with the decision as this matter will be politicised by the opposition to canvass for votes. Why didn’t EC study this matter and resolve the issue earlier rather than cancelling the usage of indelible ink at the last minute?”
___________________________
Let’s try to make some sense of all of this, if that’s possible.
Rashid says the cabinet made the decision on the day Parliament was dissolved, ie, 13th February.
Pak Lah says that decision was taken a week before Parliament was dissolved, but the EC was not directed to cancel the use of the ink. The cabinet only suggested this.
Two inconsistencies here.
Both Pak Lah and Rashid say that they had received info that ink had been illegally brought into the country. Rashid said that he was given proof of this ‘in black and white by the police and the same report went to the cabinet and they believed that this was happening’.
If this is true, it would mean that the police ( read this as Musa Hassan ) had, on or before the day Parliament was dissolved, furnished some sort of report, both to Rashid and the cabinet, of indelible ink having been brought into the country.
We know now, after Syed Hamid Albar’s revelation in Parliament on 6th May, that there was not a shred of evidence to support this.
One telling piece of evidence here.
Again, Pak Lah says that the cabinet only suggested the cancellation. Rashid, though says he was directed to cancel. And MCA lambasted EC the day after the announcement.
Was MCA doing a sandiwara? Or was MCA not part of the ‘cabinet’ decision to suggest to the EC to cancel the ink?
Is it that by ‘cabinet’, Pak Lah means his ‘inner cabinet’? Like maybe on the 4th floor?
Rashid said that he was ‘called and told about it and I was told to take the whole responsibility for agreeing to the ink. I took the whole responsibility.”
Does he mean he was summoned to a meeting and told? Or was he told over the phone? In either case, who ‘called and told’?
Whether Rashid was directed to cancel, or whether it was suggested only, and whether this took place on the day Parliament was dissolved or a week before, why the lapse of almost a month before the cancellation was announced?
Where is the report that the police ( read this as Musa Hassan ) submitted to both Rashid and the ‘cabinet’? What exactly did it say?
We know now that there was no substance to this alert of illegal ink being brought into the country. Who, then, put the police ( read this as Musa Hassan ) up to it?
Who’s still lying and who’s not?
Wong Chun Wai, how’s about sending one of your reporters out to do some investigative reporting for a change?
May 18, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Looks like Abdullah was also infected by pee-emm-itis, the same disease that purportedly plagued Mahathir throughout his career.
They never really gave directions. They made suggestions, they asked how things were progressing… stuff like that, but the stupid people working for them (not with them) thought they had been TOLD to do such and such. And blindly went ahead and did it, much to the detriment of the nation.
This disease has to be eradicated by eliminating all suspected vectors.
May 18, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Haris, it would be good to find out if ever the inks were indeed ordered, paid for and delivered? Invoices should be published. And what is the shelf life of these inks? Was it then a total waste of rakyat’s money? Every thing can be fabricated I suppose, even police reports. We have been conned bigtime.
May 18, 2008 at 4:41 pm
You asking Wong Chun Wai to send his investigative reporters after this story sounds as confident as your confidence in Gani Patail carrying out any respectable investigation of the Lingam videos.
There is something certain about Rashid’s statement of the response to the cancellation. He obviosly feels the ache of having to take the responsibility for the scrapping of the indelible ink. Sounds more like he feels let down and played out.
If I remember correctly when he announced the cancellation of the indelible ink he was seated between Musa Hassan and Gani Patail. Now from what he says, it sounds like he feels badly betrayed.
Well, from a lot of things that are being said and sung around it would seem like as if a lot of these people are confident that the Prime minister and maybe even the UMNO’s rule is quickly coming to an end. Might as well come out clean before it happens rather than when it is too late.
I guess my suggestion to these people with tales to tell is to tell it now so that you help to push the failing regime of the UMNO BN to smithereens or stand up with them now and see yourself fall with them.
May 18, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Haris
You make a LOT more sense to me than the other gobloks in power.
If you ever decide to join any party and run for Parliament - I am positive you will do more good for Malaysia.
I swear if you do decide to do this, I will be there to be your gofer!
Agree with you on MPs not being allowed to defect
Why should they?
When people vote, I believe the vote’s based not merely on the person(-ality) but also the party they stand for
So why should a wolf in sheep’s clothing be allowed to walk off with the herd?
The only disagreemt I hv with you would be in the support of the shabbycheeked one. He seems to be one who dances to the tune of his piper & his piper’s power, not one like you who dances to the tune of the Just
salaam Haris & you keep biking Bro!!!
salam gobloking,
Join a party? Not likely.
Run for Parliament? Not likely too.
Think I might be more effective watchdogging on the outside.
May 18, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Dear Harris
Re: India Inkgate Scandal
I had raised all these issues 3 days after GE08 at http:donplaypuks.blogspot.com and again via the kind consent of Marina Mahathir 2 wks ago at rantings by MM, as follows;
11th March 2008
“True & Fair” Elections?
The rusty and creaking remnants of the government machinery have cranked up quickly and shifted into overdrive in trying to salvage a modicum of respect from the dismal dregs of defeat in the recently concluded elections. In attempting to put a positive spin on the devastation that followed in the wake of ‘T030308’ - Tsunami 8th March 2008 - the party spindoctors and sycophant faithful have been quick to proclaim that, if nothing else, the results prove that we are a showcase for Democracy, and that the machinations of the EC and its long-serving Chief, have always been above-board.
The post-election leaders in the state-controlled newspapers, and the shell-shocked, battered and bruised blue-and-black PM and his much discredited motley crew, who looked like they had just barely managed to crawl out of the gas and mustard poison-filled fumes of the World War I trenches at Ypres, would have you believe that it was, to borrow an auditing term, a ‘True and Fair’ elections.
Nothing could be further than the truth!
Were it not for the hawk-like vigilance of the opposition parties, the incumbents might have got away with open, ‘mass murder’, so to speak.
Gerrymandering has long been the order of the day in ensuring native-dominated and correspondingly smaller constituencies held over-sway and a disproportionate say in determining election victories.
Now is the time to hold the EC, whose chief’s extension of tenure by Constitutional amendment was objected to by the Opposition (and whose concerns were peremptorily dismissed by the PM), accountable for all the oddities in the Electoral Roll and process.
Managers who work in private-sector organisations would not last 30 months in their jobs if they frequently made errors of Titanic magnitude!! 30 Years? That is the very reason for Nuremberg, for crimes against Humanity. Yet, the pathetic sycophants would have you believe that the EC Chief’s continued service was necessary, nay absolutely essential, for transparency and integrity to prevail. It begs the question why we have an EC with hundreds, if not thousands, of staff. In 30 years, at least one or two of them could have been trained to be an adept and effective No.2, to take over the reins at the appointed time, which, given the Civil Service and its penchant for the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), is known way in advance?
Yet extensions of tenure of service seem to be the order of the day – for everything from the post of Head of Civil Service, to the Judiciary, Police, Army, Navy, Airforce, ACA et al. No one’s work seems ever finished, even if they have been at it for 30 years. No one retires at the appointed time. Life-long tenure, if that could be worked in. In the newspaper cartoon strip, Bristow, a long-serving and suffering clerk, used to mutter about being 332nd or something in the line of succession for the position of Chief Clerk!
This fau pax, a defect in character, which points towards the reason why none of the political parties here have ever had an orderly succession of credible leaders, is congenital, and borne of a group of men who have never truly had to really work for a living and who have never been through the rough and tumble of the mill. If they have, they then feel they are entitled to be multi-millionaires when they eventually (choose to) retire, even if they have occupied a sinecure’s post for the better part of their adult existence.
So, my fellow citizens, let’s ask some pertinent and pointed question of the exalted and venerated EC Chief :-
1. Was the order ever placed to purchase 48,000 bottles of indelible ink from India at the cost of RM 2.4 million?
2. Was the ink delivered before the elections? Please provide documentary evidence such as Purchase Order, Invoice, Customs Declaration and Import documents, Delivery Order from supplier etc.
3. Please provide the names, occupation and IC Number of the person(s) who made police reports that indelible ink had been smuggled in (and from where was it smuggled so quickly). Please provide copies of the relevant Police Report(s).
4. Please explain rationally and in detail, how national security could have been imperilled and compromised, and electoral fraud committed, had indelible ink been used, Weren’t your officers out there by the thousands to prevent just that from occurring?
5. Please explain why your legal officer(s) had not addressed the issue of Constitutional amendment , or sought the AG’s opinion on such an important issue, much earlier.? Please identify and name the derelict and delinquent legal officer so that he/she can be reprimanded as provided for by the SOP.
6. How is possible that after 30 years of your tenure, we have some 8-9 thousand registered voters age 120 and over on the Electoral Roll? What do you intend to do about this now?
7. How is that they were reports (as shown on national TV) of phantom voters and also duplicate registration of army personnel?
8. Why is it that after 30 years, it is still not possible for those residing outstation to vote by post, instead of actually having to travel back to their home-towns to do so - a rather expensive and inconvenient process you agree?
9. Why is that after 30 years, it is not possible for those eligible citizens studying, working or who have travelled, overseas, at the time of Elections, to vote at the respective Embassies, High or Trade Commission offices overseas?
Please do not insult our intelligent by announcing, like a (in) famous, now defunct MB, that our standards are higher than those in New Zealand, Belgium and other leading western cities and countries.
If you feel that you do not owe the citizens of this country a proper and detailed explanation to the foregoing questions, then please tender your resignation to the Government forthwith! We do not appreciate those civil servants whose salaries and perks are paid for from taxes levied on our hard-earned private-sector income, doing nothing more than warming the seat of their chairs for 30 years, and then instead of carrying out their duties diligently and impartially, conspire with their political masters to try and put one over their fellow citizens.
donplaypuks
May 18, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Rashid has been played out by his political masters, I suppose. After all, this is Karma, right? He has sow the bad seed, now it grows and the fruits are bitter and discharge bad odour, but he still has to swallow them all. Who to blame?
May 18, 2008 at 6:18 pm
It is here that I don’t agree with you when you say anyone who wants to crossover should see re-election for two reasons. One, as you can see and have seen, the election was rigged in broad day light. Otherwise Pakatan would be in power. Secondly, a by-election is a small, concentrated issue that recieves the full glare and support of Ameno and Bee Ann (BN) and therefore they will use both violence and outright manipulaion (police, EC and postal votes) to cheat again. And you know how desperate they are. So, you need to look deeply into this issue. Another insight into the manipulation of Bee Ann (BN) by Aliran can be found here:
http://www.aliran.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=586
Sabah and Sarawak,
I think our disagreement is not on the principle of cross-overs, just the mechanics.
As I said, get the blessing of the voters who put the rep into office.
By this, I do not mean a by-election. Article 48(6) would bar the resigning incumbent.
Let the rep make a public announcement that he intends to cross-over. Announce a meeting in the local town hall to explain to any voters who care to turn up to share their views.
And be guided by the views of the voters who do show up
May 18, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Interesting to note that MR>S>V.singam to loose his temper finally.
Donplaypuks-Your data requested is official secret-just wait some rumours from shipping agent because 99% of Malaysia rumours moggers are true regarding umnoputra.(do u have any contact in shipping industries because u sound well verse about import/export)If you knows them pls spread the rumours because its for sure rights info.
To haris,
Maybe you are rights about the thing you call me regarding some issue.I just spend couple of hours with my customer/friends.Maybe its will take 6 months if your source is true.
However the same source also said if the senile old man with accasional amnesia suceed to throw AAB,we are in trouble.Like TUanku time.
Finally,the goverment in waiting cant form the goverment because Umno already stack up the cash ready.Its matter of time like krismudin said ,UMNO NEED 2 pakatan adun to jump fence.Its matter who will jump and how much at stake.
This ink issue and rashid-its like mca,gerakan and mic championing the indraf issue.Rashid have no intergrity at all.If he have one he should resign 24hours but making noise to get his pay and some support from readers.He talking about his image-look into the mirror and you rashid can see your real image.
rajraman666.NOw become hourglass.
May 19, 2008 at 1:26 am
I was thinking along the same line as Ls above.
Was there really a purchase of indelible ink? If so, where is the invoice and item now? If no, and the money is gone, who swiped it?
May 19, 2008 at 8:03 am
[...] Indelible ink : Can we have the bloody truth, please? [image] Malaysiakini reported yesterday that EC chairman Rashid revealed at a seminar that the previous cabinet had [...] [...]
May 19, 2008 at 5:34 pm
haris,
The first salvo already fired by TUN and my friends theory might be right.Unless the malay this time have more will power and politically matured.
Last night i prepared the complete theories by my friends and almost email to you but suddenly i deleted out of the blues because its contain more than rumours.
raj raman666.Hoping the teory now wont take place.
May 19, 2008 at 9:25 pm
This is interesting Haris Ibrahim, evidently the inconsistency, I see clearly now. An investigative reporting is plausible.
May 20, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Actually i do not like the idea of “Cross Over” …. but now i think we no need to be gentleman with Umno. All these moron is super ultimate big fu@#$& and Bas@#$%^&. They have cheated rakyat.
May 20, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Actually it’s not difficult to get the truth out of this ink fiasco. Just lobby our MP’s to demand that the Auditor-General (whose duty it is anyway) to do a quick audit on the whole fiasco - they need just to ask a few simple question to get the truth like - from where and whom was the ink puchased, how much bought, what price, when was it delivered, how much was used (not used), what happened to the unused ink, why purchased, who decided on the purchase, why ink not used, where is the unused ink now, what was done to the unused ink etc,etc.
When the AG’s report is tabled in Parliament later on, the identified negligent party (if any) should be surcharged to serve as an example of what a clean and accountable government should be.
May 21, 2008 at 12:50 am
Before the black ink finds its way to the sink
Examine carefully all the ink-stained links
Which may disappear faster than your blink
And still bold enough at the laws wink
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 210508
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Wed. 21st May 2008.
May 21, 2008 at 2:08 am
You mentioned wong chun wai,… hmmm…. problem is, i trust my cat better than his integrity in journalism.
May 21, 2008 at 10:10 am
Mmmmmm, so the indelible ink was never bought in the 1st place? So was the $2.4 million money dispensed with? Well…..follow the money trail……..