KUALA LUMPUR – PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil has warned the caretaker government led by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob not to overextend its role by engaging in questionable practices following the dissolution of Parliament yesterday.
This includes utilising public assets or civil servants for political campaigns or signing government contracts “at the last minute”.
Similarly, Fahmi said the caretaker government should not be allowed to announce any “election goodies” and must return all public assets accorded to them while in office.
“All these principles should be the standard for the caretaker government to prevent abuse of power, corruption and negative perception,’’ he said briefly in a Facebook post today.
A caretaker government also cannot decide on policy matters, said Fahmi.
Fahmi’s comment was referring to a statement issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali that the cabinet led by Ismail Sabri will continue to function as a caretaker government.
This means cabinet meetings can continue to be held as usual despite the dissolution of Parliament.
Ismail Sabri announced the dissolution of Parliament yesterday, putting an end to months of speculation over when the Umno-led federal government would call for the general election and making the incumbent Bera MP the shortest-serving prime minister at just shy of 14 months.
The Umno vice-president has been under pressure from his party’s top guns to seek a dissolution of Parliament from the Agong by the end of this year, despite pushback from various quarters who want the government to train its focus on the coming monsoon season. – The Vibes, October 11, 2022
