KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission (EC) has ordered 100,000 bottles of indelible ink worth RM4.8 million from India.

It was reported in India on Feb 18 that Malaysia had placed the order from a Kartanaka state-owned manufacturer, Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd (MPVL), which supplies indelible ink for polls across India.

However, EC chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah had refused to give confirmation or make any comments on the news reports, when contacted by theSun.

MPVL chairman HA Venkatesh was reported as saying that he had received the order from the EC, for the indelible ink to be used in the 14th general election, which has yet to be announced.

"The value of this order for MPVL is Rs.8 crore (RM4.8 million)," he said, adding that 100,000 bottles containing 60ml of indelible ink was ordered.

MPVL had first supplied indelible ink to India in 1962, which was later used in India's general, state and civic body polls before other countries adopted the practice.

Malaysia adopted the use of the indelible ink in the 13th general election in 2013, after it was recommended by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms and is provided for under the Election Regulations (Conduct of Election) (Amendments) 2012.

Although the polling date has not been announced, the EC had previously said that the ink can only be ordered, manufactured and shipped close to the election date because the ink will go bad after a few months.