It is a funny world and this has been like that from the beginning. When things work out, and there are two collaborators, they kiss one another, hug and say hello brother we did it. When things fail, damn you I don’t even come from your clan. How dare you call me my brother, I am of a different breed. That is the story of Badawi and Rashid the Election chief. When Badawi wanted the help of Rashid, history was made, Parliament passed a law to enable Rashid to stay on for another year. Rashid was in ecstasy, he promised Badawi the world. He told Badawi, what was 92% the last time, I will make it 100%. Although Badawi knew it was asking too much, he smiled on, Rashid will do it. Rashid was then the de-facto Prime Minister, he ran the government. He made statements, he threatened the opposition, he threatened the people, he was a clone of Badawi – forgetting he was just a civil servant, important today but tomorrow you are insignificant.
Came the elections. Neither of the two could believe the results – but then the people had decided. Rashid went into a limbo and was not heard for a time. His deputy made statements. The pronouncements that Rashid made were taken with a pinch of salt. But then he had not many years to go in service, only a couple of months, and Badawi was in no more mood to give him an extension. He wanted to go out with a bang. He claimed the cabinet,which was not in existence then, directed him on the issue of indelible ink, and he was innocent. He hoped the people would have something nice to say of him. But unfortunately Badawi hits back, it was just a request not an order, why, Rashid could have easily turned down the request. But would Rashid bite the hand that feeds him. Definitely no. So what was suggested in jest was taken as an order and the resultant fiasco of the indelible ink. I am told that the indelible ink changed its colour from black to yellow ashamed it had been sullied by two great people. But life goes on.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) — The government did not instruct the Election Commission (EC) to scrap its plan of using indelible ink in the last general election.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said, although in principle the government made the decision, it was delivered in the form of an opinion and not instruction.
The final say was still at the discretion of the EC which handles elections in Malaysia, he said.
“It is true the matter became a topic of discussion in the Cabinet because we had several information in relation to it, among them was certain people having brought the ink although they had no authority to do so.
“And we suspected the ink would be used in ways that could lead to confusion and give rise to difficult situations, could bring problems to the voting process on that day,” he said.
He was commenting on a statement by EC Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman that the Cabinet did not approve the use of indelible ink although the EC had initially agreed to use it.
Abdullah said the government had received reports that using the ink would bring about several problems and therefore, it was cancelled after taking into account certain factors.
“I say this, either we proceed with it and let things happen as a result or we abort the plan because it will ensure no problems.
“The election ran smoothly, the results have been announced and everybody has accepted it so, why should it be made an issue,” he said.
No Instruction For EC To Scrap Ink Plan, Says Abdullah :: Bernama.com
One Comment
That why people called the administration under Pak lah is a “Flip-Flop”