The EC is playing God


Mariam Mokhtar
Malaysiakini
Jun 24, 2013

We have heard the same trite comments before: “We’re clean. We’re not guilty. It wasn’t us.”

Umno Baru’s most sanctimonious hypocrite, Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, has denied claims of cheating.

Abdul Aziz expressed sadness that the indelible ink used in GE13 could easily be washed off and in an interview with the Malay daily Sinar Harian said, “If people ask me now, what is the saddest thing in my life, I would answer: ‘Indelible ink’.”

The indelible ink had been tested before use and he said, “On the much-awaited day, the power of Allah is greater when the ink could disappear after being washed several times. Where is the mistake?”

He ignored allegations of gerrymandering, the use of money and citizenship as inducements given to illegal immigrants to vote for BN, the violent attacks on Pakatan workers, the extra ballot boxes, the spoilt votes, the blackouts, as well as the plane and busloads of foreigners transported to the peninsula to vote for BN. In other words, the EC conspired with BN to cheat in GE13.

Abdul Aziz said that the ink had been tested, but then blamed the failure of the ink on “the power of Allah”.

He had sanctioned the use of doctored ink, and by saying Allah was responsible – when it was him who authorised its use – it means that he is playing God. By Abdul Aziz’s will, there was massive cheating in the election process, which allowed Umno Baru to “win the election”. By claiming that it was “the power of Allah” that allowed Umno Baru to win the election, Abdul Aziz is effectively saying that he is Allah.

This blasphemy will not endear him to the rural Malays and may mean that he will have to be sacrificed, to save the party.

Indelible ink and the EC are not compatible. Three general elections ago, in 2004, the National Fatwa Council decided that the ink would prevent Muslims from performing their prayers. In GE12 (2008), the EC said that there were national security issues and claims of sabotage. In 2013, the lies ranged from EC workers feebly shaking the bottles to a full-blown health scare.

Familiar Umno Baru excuses

These excuses are a familiar Umno Baru dodge. Recently, the organisers of the ‘Black 505’ rally were given the runaround, when trying to find a suitable venue for their rally. The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the police could not even coordinate their lies. One said there was a wedding, whilst the other claimed there was a charity run. The police also made the outrageous claim that they would be provoked.

If you must lie, do so convincingly and with a concerted effort.

If Abdul Aziz said the ink was tested prior to its use, which laboratory tested it? Was there an independent laboratory analysis? Did their results match? What was the test used?

Goldenchurn butter and Tabasco sauce went through a similar drama when their products were said to contain pork DNA by the Malaysian Islamic authorities. Butter is made from cow’s milk. Tabasco contains only vinegar and chillies. In which part of the manufacturing process would porcine DNA be introduced?

The Chemistry Department refused to share their test results with the manufacturers, did not want to reveal their methods and did not wish the butter to be sent for independent chemical analyses.

The fiasco with the indelible ink in GE13, has similar echoes of subterfuge and chicanery.

Who is the manufacturer of this ink? Have they sold us defective ink? Should we demand a refund? Why is the manufacturer not defending his product? Does he not want a repeat sale? Hasn’t his reputation been irreparably tarnished? To what standard was this ink tested?

Abdul Aziz said that a task force would investigate the ink’s recipe, the way it was used, its transportation and whether the hot air in the lock-up where the ink was stored, had caused a degradation of the ink.

The only ‘hot air’ comes from the EC chairperson, who should not waste any more of the taxpayers’ money. The only thing left is for the senior management of the EC to resign en-masse, to restore the credibility of the EC before GE14. They have severely dented the confidence of the rakyat in Malaysian democracy. If they will not go willingly, they must be sacked.

Obviously, there are three types of Umno Baru politicians and supporters – the ones who keep an undignified silence about important issues, the false prophets and those who play God.

Recently, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan wrote in Utusan Malaysia’s weekend newspaper that BN was ‘fated’ to win GE13, because God had willed it. He said, “In short, fate and God’s will determines everything.”

Who gave this false prophet, Abdul Rahman, the divine right to make prophecies? True prophets serve God and their flock, but Umno Baru politicians are self-serving men (and women) who are full of exaggerated self-importance. Is Abdul Rahman aware that Muhammad was the last prophet? Despite his blasphemous remarks, Abdul Rahman is not being investigated for sedition.

‘Cowards as leaders’

Leaders who refuse to comment on important issues when the news break, but wade-in days or weeks later, are simply playing safe. These cowards do not want to be proven wrong, or to be seen to be wrong. They need to protect their own positions. It is not just the Pakatan coalition or the rakyat whom they fear, others within their party are looking for reasons to topple them as well.

Thus, so-called leaders like BN chief Najib Abdul Razak will keep quiet about ‘mat rempit’ mobs attacking ceramah, the brutal deaths in police custody, corruption and child conversion.

The rakyat is at the mercy of Umno Baru, but it is also at the mercy of the environment. Reports from Jakarta allege that the companies which contribute to the haze affecting parts of South-East Asia, are linked to the illegitimate BN government. Najib has good reason to keep quiet.

Perhaps, the men who keep silent on important issues live in the feverish hope that these problems will fade away.

Before I graduated in Environmental Pollution Control, I applied to the Department of Environment (DOE). The DOE replied that Malaysia does not suffer from pollution. I subsequently worked for an American company and never looked back.

In Perak, the oil-palm industry – which is responsible for the haze originating from Sumatra – has production facilities and processes which are polluting the waterways of Perak. The livelihood of the villagers is affected. Fish and crustacea like udang galah die. The income from tourism is at risk. The Perak government closes one eye and panders to the industry, as rural voters are only useful to BN in the weeks before an election.

What goes around comes around. Umno Baru likes to invoke God. So, is the current pollution crisis a divine intervention? Or is it caused by Umno Baru’s policies and failure to enforce strict environmental pollution controls?

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.

  1. #1 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 8:54 am

    Come on!

    Between the EC and the computer screen, if the former was not guilty of cheating etc then the latter must be.

    There fellas, problem unriddled.

  2. #2 by Winston on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 9:50 am

    Abdul Aziz expressed sadness that the indelible ink used in GE13 could easily be washed off and in an interview with the Malay daily Sinar Harian said, “If people ask me now, what is the saddest thing in my life, I would answer: ‘Indelible ink’.” – End of quote

    Well said!
    And the saddest thing in the life of Malaysians was that he was ever born!!!

  3. #3 by freespirit on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 10:04 am

    the indelible ink had been tested before use and he said, “On the much-awaited day, the power of Allah is greater when the ink could disappear after being washed several times. Where is the mistake?” – end quote

    Excuse me – isn’t it “haram” to use God’s name in vain? What has “the power of Allah” to do with the indelible ink? It is just like when we abuse our environment and then when natural disasters occur, we blame it on the “act of God”? Ridiculous, no logic. Please leave God alone. He is all perfect. We humans are the culprits.

  4. #4 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 10:04 am

    Sorry, diversion.

    Just could not resist this issue.

    Ex-italian premier jailed 7 yrs for having paid sex with a minor.

    You poor fella. Come to malaysia man, via sabah pls.

    You see in malaysia, the minor and anyone who fought for her right would be jailed instead.

  5. #5 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 11:10 am

    Mariam, you’re educated and possessed of critical thinking faculty but unfortunately many of your countrymen ain’t so privileged. Thats why they say politics is the art of deception. Snake-oil salesmen and phony shamans explaining the will of God for electoral victory won by dubious means have always taken up politics as profession or allied with such politicians to pedal their wares to fool the public easily for power and with it private gains since the dawn of human history, and no worry they’ve always found suckers and will always find new batches willing to bite and opportunists to support them.

  6. #6 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 11:10 am

    However, with universal public education, shouldn’t the population be more educated, critical in thinking and thus warier of these politicians and vigilant of their rights? Not so as even the so called universal public education can be “fixed” to make sure that their mental faculties remain shackled fearful and compliant to political masters. That is the bane of democracy – it’s a numbers game that can degenerate to even a mob’s game! If majority are mentally shackled the incumbent politicians will win the deception game. Even if majority vote against them, they can still win by tweaking the system and electoral boundaries. What is there to rail? The people (majority) deserve their type /quality of govt., warts and all. What are you prepared to do beyond public discourse that the ruling elites dismiss as idle coffee shop chat that will not make a dent on their interests?

  7. #7 by freespirit on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 11:21 am

    Dear moderator, Please delete my comments under freespirit. thank you

  8. #8 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 11:25 am

    And even amongst those who rail against and oppose the incumbent govt., whilst many will do so in the interests of nation, future of children etc or even plain disgust at abuses repugnant to good sense and conscience, we do not know how many of these alienated would switch side and feel less outraged the moment they are provided – if they were provided – an opportunity to ally with and get the financial benefit out of associating closely in business and financial terms with these political snake-oil salesmen and phony shamans. Let not hopes and dreams borne out of decades old frustration (with no access to patronage benefits) outweigh this realistic question: How many Opposition politician will not abandon their constituents and switch side, when offered RM15-20 million to do so (in offshore account)?

  9. #9 by bryanbb on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 11:42 am

    “If people ask me now, what is the saddest thing in my life, I would answer: ‘Indelible ink’.”
    add on -sorry coz they r fussing so much now, because i really thought it was enough to defraud the people expecting them to be ignorant as always ,or force them to swallow the bitter pill after it is over..by that time who cares what they think , we would have already won , middle finger to them . suckers!! I am GOD after all.

  10. #10 by undertaker888 on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 12:45 pm

    They worship Dollah (dollar). That’s why they keep on spitting hypocrisy.

  11. #11 by worldpress on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 12:46 pm

    They and EC promote devil & evil acts

    They shown their children being liar, evil agent was greatly rewarded handsomely with country administration access billions of dollars

    Evil are their master, the evil act keep them alive

  12. #12 by Loh on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 3:36 pm

    ///Recently, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan wrote in Utusan Malaysia’s weekend newspaper that BN was ‘fated’ to win GE13, because God had willed it. He said, “In short, fate and God’s will determines everything.”///–the author

    Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan was correct to imply that it took the act of god to win an election with 47% of the votes when it was a two-party fight. If not for the way the parliamentary constituencies were drawn, and possibly aided by just enough number of votes to win an majority, as if computed to precision, 47% votes should get only 47% seats. No where else in the world can an election commission return the party with 47% votes the power to govern.

    Yes, it is an act of god. But then the job of getting it done was just human, such as in drawing the right boundary, in not accepting opposition party to review the list of voters where there were hundreds of voters in one housing unit fit for at most 10 persons. Now of course we know that the indelible ink can suddenly became invisible and may EC personnel knew where the ink with such god-like quality was located: most probably where the 47% winner won the seats.

    EC Chairman was god on the day of election to return BN to power.

  13. #13 by cinaindiamelayubersatu on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 5:15 pm

    bersiap sedialah kamu untuk menghadapNya. nescaya akan ada balasan untukmu, Aziz…

    ahh takpa, aku boleh bertaubat…..

  14. #14 by Winston on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 9:36 pm

    Well, well, well.
    Seems that UMNO/BN has the greatest number of “holy men” with many talking about God!
    So, Malaysians should send them to Heaven so that they can be where they belong!!

  15. #15 by Winston on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 9:42 pm

    The recent Black505 rallies of Malaysians has a purpose.
    And that is to marshal the thoughts and will of the electorate whose will have been hijacked in GE13.
    And frankly, judging from the response, it has reached a critical mass!
    That’s why the ruling party is trying all out to downplay the rallies!
    What’s even more galling is that many of the attendees of the rallies are Malays!!!
    Their very own supposed vote bank!!!!

  16. #16 by waterfrontcoolie on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 10:13 pm

    It was tested under scientific methods perfected by Aziz International Ink Corporation, which secured the supply from Kepong Lab managed by SPR Sdn Bhd.

  17. #17 by worldpress on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 11:01 pm

    EC dirty and unfair is still dirty and unfair if those irresponsible liars still hold the post

    Caught EC cheats, liar and indelible ink, it is reasonable to ask for new commissioner

    What this demand have to do with sworn in?

    EC is dirty and unfair, will still dirty and unfair if those irresponsible liars still hold the post

    Only those people love lie and cheat reject this demand

  18. #18 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 - 8:05 am

    Remember folks.

    Umno is the GOD of all gods and the grand master of the universe.

  19. #19 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 - 8:16 am

    If the EC dare play God, God will play them in the end.

  20. #20 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 - 11:50 am

    God takes responsibility, the EC does not. How can they be playing god? Making excuses is a Kerala-origin influence that is now the very definition of UMNO’s government.

    But like it or not, you could catch the EC duo stuffing the ballot box themselves in live TV and they still would not resign if UMNO does not want them to. All they will do is couch is as “perjuangan” – the very essense of Mahathirism..

    No one is fooled that our electoral process is a joke for a modern state. Like it or not WE ARE NOT A MODERN STATE – we are INFERIOR STATE to other – that is the state of our Federation.

    Unfortunately, we have many trained to exploit its inferiority and many still who think it don’t matter and not their business when it already has been made so..

  21. #21 by Cinapek on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 - 12:43 pm

    The EC Chairman and his band of merry men would do all of us a huge favour if they will just shut up and get out. And please do not insult God by your blasphemous claim that God was responsible for your indelible ink fiasco.

  22. #22 by Noble House on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 - 3:01 pm

    When all else failed bring out God…..the “Ah-Ha” moment came after this familiar verse from past experience!

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