Government willing to consider biometric system in polls

BIOMETRIC technology will be considered as an alternative for voter identification for future polls, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

He said the Parliament Select Committee on Election Commission will be formed today.

“It is hoped the committee will sit as soon as possible to consider the proposals in order to make the necessary recommendations on improvements,” he said during debates on the second reading on the Supplementary Supply Bill yesterday.

He was asked by Tan Seri Annuar Musa (BN - Ketereh) if the Election Commission (EC) would consider using biometrics as a form of voter identification as a replacement for the indelible ink.

Earlier, Shahidan clarified that the identification of the ink suppliers were kept strictly confidential for security reasons, to the extent that even senior EC officers were unaware of the details.

To a supplementary question raised by Rafizi Ramli (PKR - Pandan) on the identity of the company engaged to handle the indelible ink, Shahidan said it would not be engaged in future as security would be compromised once their identify was made known.

He also refused to reveal the identity of the companies involved in direct negotiations with the EC with regard to the ink but provided the names of six companies that had supplied caps and T-shirts.

“I will leave it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as to how they wish to reveal this (identity of the company) to the public,” he said after denying Rafizi’s allegations against a local company said to be involved in supplying the indelible ink.

Despite numerous clarifications about the indelible ink, it is still being played up as an issue in light of the Kuala Besut by-election next week, said Shahidan.