Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today called on certain quarters not to make speculations on the Election Commission (EC) being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) pertaining the indelible ink issue.

He also questioned the move taken by the opposition in demanding the EC leadership to step down just because of the issue, when it was the opposition leaders who insisted the use of the indelible ink in the 13th general election.

"Why? They were the ones who asked for the indelible ink to be used, and when there is an issue, they want the EC leadership to step down.

"I have stressed on this before, we don't need indelible ink, we have the IC (identity card) for verification (of voters) purposes, but certain quarters were afraid that the IC would be abused, so now, they want it to be investigated," Tengku Adnan, who is also federal territories minister, told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Insider news portal reported that the MACC had set up a task force to investigate the indelible ink fiasco, focusing on whether there was a criminal breach of trust or misuse of power in the purchase of the ink.

Prior to this, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also DAP secretary-general, had also issued a statement demanding the entire EC leadership to resign in connection with the indelible ink issue.

On the Kuala Besut state by-election, Tengku Adnan said BN had no problem if the by-election were to be held during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The state seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman Dr A Rahman Mokhtar of BN last Wednesday.

The EC is expected to convene a special meeting this Friday to set the date for the by-election, the first to be held after the May 5 general election.

- Bernama