‘Caretaker govt necessary to ensure smooth national administration’

KUALA LUMPUR: A caretaker government is necessary to ensure the continued smooth operation of the national administration once parliament is dissolved to pave the way for a general election, it was stated here yesterday.

Dr Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz, a law professor at the International Islamic University of Malaysia ( IIUM), said the caretaker government also serves as a trustee in safeguarding the interests of the people and the country during the period parliament remains dissolved.

She said that the Federal Constitution may be silent on the matter but it was the accepted practice to have a caretaker government.

“Even though there is no specific provision in the Constitution, it is not a problem. It is the practice in any country in the world for the existing government and the Cabinet of Ministers to function as the interim government until the formation of the new government elected by the people,” she told Bernama.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced today that Parliament will be dissolved tomorrow for the 14th General Election to be held.

Shamrahayu said the caretaker government also advises the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the administration of the country while His Majesty would be the “check and balance” for the caretaker government. — Bernama