BERSIH today reminded the caretaker governments of six states going to the polls not make any major decisions or introduce new projects.

A caretaker government functions only to carry out basic administrative duties until the new government is sworn in, it said. 

“These caretaker governments must refrain from making any major decisions or announcing any projects.

“Any such decision or announcement would be democratically wrong and legally dubious as they do not have the authority beyond caretaking,” Bersih said in a statement today.

Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu must hold elections by September. 

Bersih said the state secretary’s office must issue guidelines for caretaker state governments.

“The guidelines (for a caretaker federal government), among other things, state that the caretaker governments cannot make any binding decisions or policies.

“Nor can it take any action that may have financial implications and burden the newly established government, unless the action is required in the public interest.

“Whatever projects any outgoing state government wants to pursue can only be promised in its manifesto and must not be announced as decisions.”

Bersih also urged Malaysians to demand that the outgoing state governments respect this aspect of democracy. 

“If misconduct is tolerated due to partisan bias, then all parties would race to the bottom in bending rules to win elections at the expense of public interest.” – June 27, 2023.