KUALA LUMPUR, DEC 10 (Seachange Malaysia) -- A recent Malaysian invention appears set to boost the fight against freedom and democracy among the repressive regimes of the world.

This brilliant invention, brainchild of Datuk Omar Mohd Hashim, Chairman of Malaysia's Election Commission, is the waxed ballot paper. As Datuk Omar explains, "Only the space where voters would have placed a tick for the Opposition is waxed, so that it is nearly impossible to make a mark. In addition, we give them blunt pencils. After several attempts, voters generally give up and vote for the other party instead.

"Even if the voter persists, the graphite flakes off when the paper is folded, leaving the space blank, so that the vote would be counted as spoilt."

Judging from the large number of spoilt votes recorded during the country's tenth general elections, particularly in traditional Opposition strongholds, the invention was apparently a resounding success. In many electorates, the margin of victory by the Barisan Nasional candidate was far less than the number of spoilt votes.

The invention has received high praise from newly re-elected Prime Minister Mahathir and many BN parliamentarians who managed to save their political hides with this timely innovation. The waxed ballot paper is also held responsible for BN retaining its two-third parliamentary majority, as a result of which, Datuk Omar is being considered for the Bintang Mahathir, the nation's highest award for excellent service.

A worldwide patent has been sought for this invention, and the licensing of the idea is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions annually. Speaking at the opening of the Langkawi Cake Show today, Prime Minister Mahathir described it as the finest example of the "Malaysia Boleh" spirit.

The PM added, "Now autocrats, dictators and tyrants the world over need not fear elections, which may be held openly. There will be no need to intimidate voters, conduct mass propaganda, doctor the electoral rolls or rig the results. Even the most shockingly corrupt leader can now be democratically elected."

China's Premier, Zhu Rongji, is reported to have been bowled over by this invention. The Beijing Star yesterday quoted the Premier: "My only regret is that we did not think of it first. It is now possible for our great nation to become a democracy in name while changing nothing in practice."

Also interested are Myanmar, North Korea, Libya and Iraq, all seeking to cast off their pariah nation status with the help of waxed ballot papers.

Not somone to rest on his laurels, Datuk Omar when contacted by Seachange Malaysia hinted that he was working on an even more powerful weapon against the insidious spread of freedom and genuine democracy. "It's called the Disappearing-Reappearing Ink," he said cryptically.

Seachange Malaysia

Back to Homepage