Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali has questioned the legality of the BN caretaker government doubling BR1M handouts, English language daily The Star reported today.

The duties of a caretaker government are confined to administrative duties until a new government is formed after an election.

Azmin asked how a caretaker government was able to announce additional cash handouts when it was not included in Budget 2018.

"The additional BR1M incentives were not announced during Budget 2018. The cabinet has been dissolved and you are only a caretaker government.

"How can additional allocation be announced when it was not in the national budget?” he was quoted as asking at an event yesterday.

No financial commitments

The PKR deputy president added that caretaker governments are barred from making financial commitments.

"The only exception is if something catastrophic or a natural disaster happens – then there are provisions to act during this period.

"Otherwise, they cannot approve any contract, tender or make any financial obligations," Azmin said.

At the launch of the BN manifesto for the 14th general election manifesto on Saturday, chairperson Najib Abdul Razak announced that he would double BR1M handouts to various groups, scheduled to be paid out in June and August this year.

Apart from doubling handouts, Najib also announced a new category of BR1M recipients – households earning between RM4,000 to RM5,000 – which previously did not qualify for the handout.

This was met with much support from the 15,000-strong audience at the launch, with some touting that the extra cash would convince fence-sitters to support BN.

Parliament was dissolved on Saturday and an election must be called within 60 days.

The Election Commission has yet to announce the date for the GE14.