Electoral reform group Bersih "reminded" all outgoing state governments in six states that will face elections soon, to not make any major decisions or announce projects.
In saying so, Bersih's steering committee said that the function of the caretaker governments is only to maintain basic operations until a new government is sworn in.
"Any such decision or announcement (on projects) would be democratically wrong and legally dubious as they do not have the authority beyond caretaking.
"The state governments’ secretary offices need to issue a caretaker government guideline, as has been done at the federal level," said Bersih.
The guideline, among other things, stipulates that a caretaker government 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.
Elaborating, Bersih said that any project an outgoing state government wants to pursue can only be promised in its manifesto and must not be announced as decisions.
"Bersih urges the public to monitor and demand all outgoing state governments this basic respect of democracy.
"If misconducts are 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." - Mkini
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