Caretaker government when House is dissolved, says EC

The Election Commission has ruled out a caretaker government taking over administering the country from today even though the BN's five-year term since the March 6, 2008, polls runs out today. 

Election Commission deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Omar said this is because the nation's convention only allowed a caretaker government to be formed with the dissolution of parliament and the ruling party takes over the role of caretaker government.

Wan Ahmad (left) was responding to senior lawyer Tommy Thomas who opined that BN would become a caretaker government from today on.

Tommy Thomas's view was echoed by DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, saying that BN should consult the opposition where government affairs are concerned particularly the Lahad Datu intrusion.

Wan Ahmad said, these people are entitled to their views.

As for the development of caretaker guidelines proposed in the report drafted by Parliamentary Select Committee's (PSC) on electoral reform, Wan Ahmad said, the government and Attorney General's Chamber (AGC) are dealing with this.

"After we found out what PSC had recommended on caretaker government, is not under our purview, we passed it to the government and AGC to handle," he said, adding that he was unaware of its latest status.

However, he said, even if caretaker government guidelines and code of conduct are finalised, it would be a convention, not legislation that could be enforced.

As such, Wan Ahmad said, breaching the convention, guidelines and code of conduct, do amount not to committing an offence.

[More to follow]