Kota Kinabalu: The decision on use inedible ink in the coming election is not affected by the Government's decision to withdraw all amendments to the Election Offences Act, said Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reforms Chairman, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili. He said when the Government decided on the issue it was largely on the distance of polling centres and the number of people in polling centres.
"The matter was brought up because during previous elections in the polling centres political parties had their huts outside for their people to check.
"So they widened their distance let's say the 100-metre exclusion zone, otherwise there will be too much campaigning as you enter," he said, Saturday.
He said another problem was that campaigning was also done in the polling centres since the Election Commission would allow political party representatives to monitor what was going on at the polling centres.
Ongkili, who is also Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, said the Election Commission at the time felt it was causing trouble.
However, parties on both sides agreed to allow it as long as they do not go against the law.
On May 10, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the decision was made after a 10-minute discussion between the Election Commission, lawmaker Lim Kit Siang and Dewan Negara President, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang and himself.
The three amendments, initially, were passed by the Dewan Rakyat on April.
It was due to be debated in the Dewan Negara with two additional amendments, making a total of five amendments to the bill.
Nazri, earlier also said that too many amendments into the Bill will result in a messy situation and the amendments will lose their purpose.
The proposed changes, among others, were the extension of the current 50-metre exclusion zone from the polling centres to 100m or any distance EC deems fit.
