We’re doing national service, says Daim in defence of CEP

The former finance minister praises his colleagues in the Council of Eminent Persons which came under criticism recently.

Daim Zainuddin says Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be welcomed as an ‘old friend’ when he visits China next month.

PETALING JAYA: The government’s chief adviser has defended the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) which he heads amid criticism that it was acting like the de facto government, including in its engagement in matters of high diplomacy.

Daim Zainuddin, whose visit to China this month sparked criticism over the role of the CEP, told the South China Morning Post that the council’s members were committed and backed by “and a young, very hardworking and efficient secretariat”.

He also expressed confidence that the five-member council would complete their work within the 100-day period.

“All of us are doing voluntary national service. We will submit our report to the prime minister and after that, all of us will go back to our normal jobs,” he told the paper.

Besides Daim, CEP is comprised of Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Hassan Marican, Robert Kuok and Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have criticised the council, formed days after Pakatan Harapan’s victory in May, saying it was undermining the Cabinet.

This was after Daim met top Chinese officials ahead of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s visit to Beijing next month.

Daim told SCMP that the prime minister could expect a warm welcome from top Chinese officials, despite his administration’s plan to scale back major projects undertaken by Chinese companies.

He said had been briefed by officials there on what they hoped to achieve during’s Mahathir first official visit to China after winning the May polls.

“They look forward to my prime minister’s visit which they describe as a meeting of old friends,” Daim said. -FMT