Dr M wants CEP to continue

PM wants Daim and council to trace where the 1MDB money is

BEI J ING: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) to continue to function although the body has reached the end of its 100-day mandate.

The Prime Minister said he also needed CEP chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin to continue to serve in the council, saying he had not dismissed the group of advisers.

Asked by the media to respond to Daim, who on Monday had said that the CEP had completed its task and finished its 100-day mandate, the Prime Minister said: “No, no, no, he (Daim) said it (CEP mandate) is for 100 days, I never mentioned 100 days.

“I want him (Daim) to be there, to do part of my work, interview people and trace where the money is,” said Dr Mahathir.

The CEP was formed on May 12 – three days after the last general election – to help shape policies and programmes to achieve Pakatan Harapan’s 100-day promises.

The council was also tasked with advising the government on economic and financial matters.

Dr Mahathir said there were currently four agencies under his purview looking into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal and other issues.

“Daim has access to a lot of information that I think it is useful for him to continue his work. I have not dismissed him,” he said.

Besides Daim, its other members comprise former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petronas CEO Tan Sri Hassan Marican, Hong Kong-based Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok and economics expert Prof Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

The CEP’s secretariat was led by economist Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid.

There are also two committees under the CEP – the Institutional Reforms Committee and the 1MDB Committee.

Meanwhile, Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) must be disbanded and its report made available to Parliament and the rakyat.

The Umno secretary- general thanked the CEP which has completed its tenure and will be handing over its report to the Prime Minister next week.

“The council was formed to advise the government in its infancy, especially before the Cabinet was fully appointed as well as prior to the first sitting of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

“Now, everything has been formed and the Prime Minister has a great Cabinet consisting of five senior party leaders. In fact, some of Pakatan Harapan MPs have fought for their struggle longer than the CEP members,” he said in a statement.

“CEP does not have the legitimacy of the law or the Constitution.

“It is not part of the Legislative, Executive or Judiciary. The CEP’s continued existence will only jeopardise the current parliamentary democratic system,” he said.

Annuar said while there were some who felt the CEP was set up on a voluntary basis without any cost to the government, it was not about the question of cost but more of a matter of power.

“Furthermore the CEP members have huge interests with the government, thus there is clear conflict of interest,” he said.