POLITICAL VANDALISM IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia Election Commission Chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman’s double-storey bungalow was splashed with red paint by three unidentified men early yesterday morning, ruining his front gate and one of his vehicles.

The attack can be classified as a simple piece of political vandalism. It is believed that the main cause for the red paint attack is due to the last-minute move by the Election Commission to scrap the use of indelible ink that was announced on Tuesday, following legal advice and looking at the issue of public order and security.

Legally, Election Commission had to scrap the indelible ink unless the Election Regulations 1981 are amended, as the right to vote cannot be made conditional on the marking of voters' fingers.

A lot of criticisms have been thrown to EC for the decision, and some political party supporters even have taken this aversely. Ironically, the decision is tough and difficult, but it ought to be done.

Isn't the idea that this is such a just cause, while painful, is worth the price?