‘CEP must be dissolved, its report made public’
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said findings made by the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) should be made public and tabled in Parliament.
He said CEP should also be disbanded now that it had concluded its 100-day term and fulfilled the mandate given to it by the government.
The Ketereh member of parliament said CEP had courted controversy since it was formed and its continued existence should no longer be an option.
“It’s time for CEP to be dissolved now that everything has been established. CEP was established to advise the government, but we already have a cabinet comprising senior leaders from five Pakatan Harapan component parties.
“Furthermore, CEP has no legal or constitutional legitimacy. It is also not part of the three legislative, executive and judicial branches. Its existence may undermine the parliamentary democratic system,” he said.
Annuar said some might argue on the merits of retaining CEP as it cost the government nothing as the council members worked on a voluntary basis.
However, he said, the i ssue was not about costs, but governing the country based on the constitution.
He said the matter became all the more pressing as the council members also had interests in the government and this created a clear conflict of interest.
“Maintaining the council would challenge the integrity of the cabinet.
“CEP ’s existence makes it look like the government cannot rely on i ts cabinet members,” he said, adding that some of the cabinet members had previously attacked some CEP members with all kinds of allegations.
However, he said, they were now bowing to the same individuals in the CEP.
On Monday, CEP chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin said the coun- cil’s initial term had come to an end and the council’s work was done.
Daim said he would meet Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to discuss the future of the advisory council.
“Our mandate is 100 days. Our last day was yesterday (Monday).
“When he (Dr Mahathir) comes back (from China), I will make an appointment to consult him (and see) what he has in mind.
“As far as I am concerned, we have finished our 100 days and everybody (CEP members) has gone back to their respective jobs.
“We were all volunteers,” Daim was quoted as saying.
Dr Mahathir had previously indicated that CEP’s tenure might be extended as he still required its services.