Kuok to attend CEP meeting this week, says Kadir
PETALING JAYA: Hong Kongbased Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok is set to fly home this week to attend the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) meeting.
Its head of media and communication Datuk A. Kadir Jasin confirmed that the 94-year-old billionaire would return to Malaysia, but he was uncertain of the date.
“Well, it is no secret that Robert Kuok is not in the best of health now.
“He has not given us the confirmed date yet but he said he will come,” Kadir said.
Tun Daim Zainuddin, who heads the CEP, told Nanyang Siang Pau in an exclusive interview that he had spoken to Kuok over the telephone about his homecoming for the meeting this week.
He said Kuok has extensive experience in business and finance and is well-versed in the industries of commodities, real estate, hotel and tourism.
“Therefore, his suggestions are important. I can say that he is an all-rounder,” said Daim.
Kuok was named as one of the five members in the CEP three days after Pakatan Harapan toppled the Barisan Nasional government, alongside Daim, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Aktar Aziz, Tan Sri Hassan Marican and Prof Jomo Kwame Sundaram.
Daim noted that Kuok would not be staying too long in Malaysia, and that PPB Group Bhd chairman Tan Sri Oh Siew Nam would attend meetings in Kuok’s absence.
In the interview, Daim said Malaysia was “lucky” because the rise in international crude oil price from US$52 to US$71 (RM206 to RM282) per barrel allowed the Government to cushion the impact of the abolition of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
“When the crude oil price increases, the Pakatan government must ensure that the extra earnings are spent on the people and not wasted,” he said.
On the feasibility of abolishing toll collection, Daim said he believed “everything can be resolved”.
He reiterated that CEP only plays an advisory role on a voluntary basis and does not make any decision.
Decisions would ultimately be decided by the Cabinet, he said, adding that they do not receive a salary or allowance.
So far, he said CEP had invited the heads of 40 agencies and 50 representatives from various industries.
“We want the people to understand ... because some people criticised that we are not elected (representatives) but we are speaking out,” he said.
“This has nothing to do with being elected or not. The Government just wants us to apprehend the country’s overall situation and make suggestions for the problems.”
Daim noted the CEP would also call on the Government to let capable businessmen manage government-linked companies (GLCs), as the Government’s involvement in the business sector would often lead to “serious setbacks”, with the most obvious example being 1MDB.
Contrary to the “cash is king” approach, Daim said “people are king” is what the Government must uphold at all times.
Cupping his hand on his left chest, Daim said Umno failed because certain members in the Cabinet have “blinded their hearts”.
“Umno has good and intelligent leaders, such as former international trade and industry minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
“It’s just that they paid more attention to the positions than listening to the people,” he said.