In efforts to placate the public and to show that he was doing something, Prime Minister Najib Razak has given the nod to the use of biometric voter verification system, but has sparked even greater outcry with critics accusing him of deliberately delaying the electoral reforms sought by polls watchdog Bersih.
They also slammed him for not doing his homework and offering sloppy solutions that would not address the problems but may actually open the door for massive electronic fraud.
But perhaps under the impression that his countrymen knew as little as he did, Najib pompously agreed to finance the cost of implementing the system for the Election Commission.
According to him, the system was one of the initiatives to ensure transparency, stressing that biometric verification (BM) would counter allegations about the existence of phantom voters. The BM system is a sophisticated electronic gadget that recognizes and matches the fingerprints of legitimate voters.
But already, there are widespread protests across the country against it, with many people believing it was the latest scam from the Najib administration to confuse and augment arguement amongst the Rakyat. The underlying motive is, of course, to put the heat off the Bersih demands on the BN government.
High-tech fraud
Other than the cost, which will be inevitably passed on to consumers, many have questioned the rationale for such a system? Najib has touted it as one of the most advanced voting system available to check voter fraud. It is reliable, 100% fool-proof and temper proof.
The public is not convinced as anything man-made, is never tamper-proof. For example the high tech Malaysian polymer notes can also be forged. So can credits cards and Mykads.
If immigration records of Altantuya can disappear from the Immigration database, what more with electronic bytes of information, which can easily be altered with the skills of a programmer?
Besides, how do you verify a thumb print in a rural voting booth, without adequate monitoring? Are we going to put our complete trust in a machine? Some feels that the biometric system sounds more like high tech fraud. It is not surprising then that UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has been a leading proponent of this system - better than indelible ink, he says!
Cost and becoming obsolete
The public would like to know the cost for implementing this new system. At a time, when the world economy is slowing down, with massive spending cuts, the Malaysian government seems to continue to spend without a thought. Why spend top money for a system which will only be used once every five years? At the rate our electronic machines becomes obsolete, it will be time to throw it away before the next election.
There are also concerns that foreigner workers may already be onto the biometric system. Is there any fool-proof way to identify a legitimate voter from that of a foreign immigrant? A BM system uses a memory chip that can store tonnes of information, and to verify the authenticity between 2 images. It does not have the human touch to discern whether a voter is genuine or not.
Another point worth considering is: what if the biometric system malfunctions? What if it starts to reject legitimate voters in a mis-scan? What if the machine is unable to read the microchips embedded in our Mykads? Are we going to write it off as spoilt votes?
Programmers can print out exception reports of duplicate voters via Mykad numbers whether old or new. The database which includes insertion of the thumbprints, Mykad numbers and addresses of an estimated 10 million voters has to be manually keyed in, which exposes a high risk of fraud and tampering.
Individual person identity verification using biometrics is always only the THUMB...not any other finger, someone has pointed out. It also won’t be surprising if this scheme is cancelled in the last minute by the flip-flop decisions of the government, like in the case of the indelible ink.
In the minds of everyone that should this BM system be implemented, will the government allow NGOs and independent bodies to audit the system, and monitor its operation?
Expensive, fraud-prone, manipulation at the click of a mouse
The people are curious how much is being set aside for this project. Isn't indelible ink cheaper and more effective? Already, we have ample stocks of indelible ink purchased in 2007, which was never used.
Already the Pakatan Rakyat are not given any air time to campaign on television. Allegations of bribes, threats, gerrymandering of boundaries, and issuance of MyKad to illegal immigrants are rampant.
Who would believe the BM system alone will ensure a free and fair election?
Unless Malaysians are assured that the new BM system is fool-proof, it would be prudent of the government to use the simplest, cheapest solution available today and that is the indelible ink.
Indelible ink controls duplication, BM allows for greater multiplication of illegal entries
To date the government has failed to explain to the rakyat its reservation to use the indelible ink giving erroneous statements that the indelible ink is humiliating, and practised only in 3rd world countries like Africa and India.
As far as we know, India has overtaken us many times over, and if India does not object to the indelible ink which has made them one of the world’s largest democracy, why should Malaysians object?
We are sure Malaysians would rather be humiliated than to allow a tainted election to mar our nation’s future.
Indelible ink actually means "un-removable" ink.
India, Philippines, Indonesia and parts of Africa and other developing countries have used indelible ink as a form of electoral stain to prevent electoral fraud. But in typical spendthrift UMNO style, Malaysia wants to show off and jump to BM, when at the moment, they are far behind these nations.
So stop talking so much, show some sincerity and stop cheating. No wonder the people no longer believe in anything that starts with N a j i b - which is incidentally is also the self-titled book the less-than-tactful PM gave as a meeting-gift to the Pope.
Last point for N a j i b to refute. The use of indelible ink is to ensure that people don't vote more than once. How will this expensive BM system that his administration is touting to be the best in the world address this issue?
If you keep adding illegal entries to the database, you could still get people voting over and over again. N a j i b must really think Malaysians are so stupid!
- Malaysia Chronicle
Related Story: This is how the Election Commission helps BN to cheat voters
Malaysia Chronicle appends below the 8 electoral reforms suggested by the Bersih 2.0 working committee
1. Clean the electoral roll
The electoral roll is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. The electoral roll must be revised and updated to wipe out these ‘phantom voters’. The rakyat have a right to an electoral roll that is an accurate reflection of the voting population. In the longer term, BERSIH 2.0 also calls for the EC to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities.
2. Reform postal ballot
The current postal ballot system must be reformed to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia are able to exercise their right to vote. Postal ballot should not only be open for all Malaysian citizens living abroad, but also for those within the country who cannot be physically present in their voting constituency on polling day. Police, military and civil servants too must vote normally like other voters if not on duty on polling day.
The postal ballot system must be transparent. Party agents should be allowed to monitor the entire process of postal voting.
3. Use of indelible ink
Indelible ink must be used in all elections. It is a simple, affordable and effective solution in preventing voter fraud. In 2007, the EC decided to implement the use of indelible ink. However, in the final days leading up to the 12th General Elections, the EC decided to withdraw the use of indelible ink citing legal reasons and rumours of sabotage.
BERSIH 2.0 demands for indelible ink to be used for all the upcoming elections. Failure to do so will lead to the inevitable conclusion that there is an intention to allow voter fraud.
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
The EC should stipulate a campaign period of not less than 21 days. A longer campaign period would allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. It will also allow candidates more time to disseminate information to rural areas. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the campaign period for 12th GE in 2008 was a mere 8 days.
5. Free and fair access to media
It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.
6. Strengthen public institutions
Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.
In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.
7. Stop corruption
Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.
8. Stop dirty politics
Malaysians are tired of dirty politics that has been the main feature of the Malaysian political arena. We demand for all political parties and politicians to put an end to gutter politics. As citizens and voters, we are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.
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