Caretaker PM can only oversee day-to-day operations

 

Most of the day-to-day work will be performed by the civil servants under the chief secretary to the government and Muhyiddin will only oversee the chief secretary.

PETALING JAYA: Muhyiddin Yassin is now “caretaker prime minister”, so what does that mean? Experts say it means his powers are limited to only overseeing the day-to-day operations of the administration.

Constitutional expert Bastian Pius Vendargon said there was no reference to a caretaker government in the Constitution, adding that it was a concept of the Westminster parliamentary system.

“It is a theory that a nation should not be without a government even for a minute when Parliament is dissolved,” he told FMT.

It is usually formed from the existing government, he added.

Normally, he said, a caretaker government arises after Parliament is dissolved and a general election is called to form a new government either from the ruling party or the opposition.

There is usually a caretaker government but now Muhyiddin will act as a sole caretaker, or a “caretaker prime minister”, he added.

Vendargon was referring to a statement from the Palace saying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has accepted Muhyiddin’s resignation today, following an audience with the Palace.

The statement said that holding a general election was not the best option due to the welfare and security of the people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Muhyiddin will therefore stay as the caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed.

Although Muhyiddin is now the sole caretaker of the administration, Vendargon said he would have no power to approve any major projects, allocations or to change policies.

“A caretaker is about maintaining the status quo and overseeing the day-to-day running of the government administration,” he added.

Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said Muhyiddin has been asked to hold the “wheels for the time being” until the new prime minister takes over.

He will not be able to make any major decisions and neither can he approve any major allocations or projects.

Most of the day-to-day running is still under the chief secretary, he said, adding that Muhyiddin will only be overseeing or monitoring the chief secretary of the government. - FMT