Ti: Clarify scope and authority of CEP

PETALING JAYA: The scope, authority and accountability of the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) needs to be clearly defined, says Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.

Ti, who is MCA’s Religious Harmony Bureau chairman, said the party is in support of good governance but noted that the CEP is not provided for in the Constitution.

“Unlike the members of the Cabinet who are answerable to the rakyat in the election, who are the members of the CEP answerable or accountable to?” he said in a statement yesterday calling for the constitutionality, legality and authority of the CEP to be explained or defined.

Ti questioned if the stage is being set for political councils to assume or hijack powers of the Cabinet or institutions outlined by the Constitution.

“Although the intentions of the CEP are altruistic and the members are eminent, will its scope be only to assist the newly elected Pakatan government implement and deliver their 100-day promises?” he asked.

Ti said MCA was concerned that the non-Constitutional institution will be a precedent that could eventually metamorphose into the Council of Elders proposed by PAS, whereby the Syura Council has the ultimate say with unlimited and unchecked powers.

However, Ti said, if Pakatan Harapan is doing “well and good for the people”, MCA will continue to support all good efforts, policies and governance despite being in the Opposition.

“MCA, despite suffering heavy losses, will continue to exist and function as a rakyat-friendly party. We are still the best educational, welfare and social political party on record,” he said.

He added that the party’s Public Services and Complaints Bureau has top-of-mind awareness for members of the public with personal woes.