The conventions broadly include the following: When an opposition party or coalition wins enough seats at a general election to be able to command a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the convention is for the incumbent prime minister (still in caretaker mode) to formally advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that he or she is no longer able to govern, and that the Leader of the Opposition should be invited to form a government.
The Menteri Besar (or chief minister) can, however, resign office and advise the sultan / raja / governor at any time to appoint a new state government.
The operation of the Malaysian political system ensures that an executive council (or cabinet) is always maintained and that caretaker governments at state level abide by the conventions.
The Caretaker provisions explicitly recognise that, after the dissolution of state assembly, the business of government must continue and that "ordinary matters of administration" must be addressed.
The conventions broadly include the following: When an opposition party or coalition wins enough seats at a state election to be able to command a majority in the Dewan Undangan Negeri, the convention is for the incumbent Menteri Besar / chief minister (still in caretaker mode) to formally advise the sultan / raja / governor that he or she is no longer able to govern, and that the Leader of the Opposition should be invited to form a state government.
The sultan / raja / governor then requests the incumbent Menteri Besar / chief minister and his or her executive council (or cabinet) members to remain in office on a caretaker basis until a new state government is sworn in.
This can be delayed by the counting of votes in closely contested seats, or by the processes by which executive council (or cabinet) members are chosen under the relevant party's rules.