CEP won’t be dissolved yet, says Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR: The Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) will not be dissolved this weekend.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he still required the council’s services and has yet to decide on the matter.

“I never said (CEP) would be for only 100 days. I need their services. I haven’t decided on it yet,” he said when asked on reports that the council would be dissolved on Pakatan Harapan’s 100th day in power.

He said this after launching the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur private hospital here yesterday.

On May 12, Dr Mahathir announced the formation of a “council of elders” to advise the new PH government on economic and financial matters during the transition of power from the Barisan Nasional government.

The council is headed by former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin. Other members are former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petronas president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hassan Marican, billionaire Robert Kuok and economist Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

On how long CEP would operate, Dr Mahathir said: “Until we solve many of the problems. I myself cannot do that kind of work.”

Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the government’s decision to maintain the function of CEP was not an indication that its ministers were ineffective in carrying out their duties.

He said the decision was made as there was a need to retain the council’s services at the moment.

“CEP is scrutinising proposals and suggestions from many parties for the government.

“They will be scrutinised before being brought to the cabinet for discussion. (It’s) not because (the cabinet) is ineffective.”