PUTRAJAYA– The National Fatwa Council has approved the use of silver nitrate indelible ink for the next general election as it fulfils Islamic requirements.
Its chairman Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said the ink was found to be free from any non-halal substance, and was non-hazardous and permeable.
“These are the three criteria set by the council to see whether the indelible ink can be used in the election.
“Based on the analysis from the Chemistry Department, the ink was found to have met the requirements.
“As such, the council agreed that the use of indelible ink is allowable and can be implemented,” he said after chairing a meeting on the matter here Wednesday.
The meeting, held at the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), was attended by representatives from the Election Commission (EC), Chemistry Department, Health Ministry and the muftis.
Dr Abdul Shukor said the criteria were set to ensure that when the ink was applied to Muslims, it could absorb water and did not forbid them from performing prayers.
“The analysis also showed that the ink would not cause any harmful side effects,” he said.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had in December announced that the commission had agreed to several recommendations by the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, and the use of indelible ink was one of them.
He said the ink, which contains silver nitrate, had been identified and sent to various departments for further testing to ensure it was safe to use.
In 2008, the council gave its approval on the use of a type of indelible ink for the general election then but the EC decided not to use it because of the potential of a security breach -TheStar
