CEP's services still needed, says PM

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he still needs the services of the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) to solve problems in the government.

Quashing speculation that the council tasked to advise the federal government would be disbanded by this weekend when the Pakatan Harapan administration reaches its 100th day, Mahathir said he never said the CEP was only for 100 days.

"Some think that CEP has come to the end, but I haven't decided.

"I didn't say anything about 100 days. I still need their services," he told reporters today.

Asked if there was any timeline for the council, he said, "Until we have solved many of the problems. I can’t do all the work."

Mahathir was speaking to reporters after he launched the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Hospital, a 60-bed private hospital offering a full range of cardiac and vascular services, near KL Sentral.

He was asked whether the council's lifespan would come to an end when Harapan passes its 100-day deadline, within which the ruling coalition party had promised to fulfil 10 promises in its manifesto.

The promises include eliminating the goods and services tax, standardising the minimum wage and establishing Royal Commissions of Inquiry to investigate various corruption scandals.

CEP's establishment as an advisory panel for the Harapan-led government was announced on May 12, two days after Mahathir was sworn-in as the seventh prime minister.

The council is led by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, and consists of former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petronas chairperson Hassan Marican, economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram and business tycoon Robert Kuok.

However, Mahathir's statement today that he never said CEP would last for only 100 days varies from his statement to reporters when announcing the council.

Several media outlets, including Berita Harian and The Edge, quoted Dr Mahathir as saying that CEP would assist in shaping up policies and programmes to achieve Harapan's 100-day promises, and that this was also the length of CEP's lifespan. - Mkini