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(Update) Dewan hots up as Khairy questions CEP's role

KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin has called for the Council of Eminent Persons to be dissolved if it continues to overstep its authority.

The Rembau Member of Parliament said the Cabinet should look into the matter immediately if the council continues to act beyond its prescribed role as an advisory body.

“If they continue to do overstep their advisory role, I suggest that it should be dissolved. The Cabinet should be accountable for such decisions.

“When there is a situation where they can represent the government in bilateral talks this creates an issue of accountability,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Khairy was referring to Tun Daim Zainuddin’s visit to China to renegotiate Putrajaya’s loans and contracts as the second such instance of the council overstepping its bounds.

“Why does Daim have to supersede the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister? The people need to know the content of the discussion Daim had with Chinese leaders,” he said.

“So where is the source of CEP's powers to carry out these efforts? There is also a clash of interests,” he added.

The CEP, he noted, was formed to only advise the government. He said the council had overstepped its bounds by allegedly summoning Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.

He said that the former administration had advisers but they never overstepped their boundaries by "ordering members of the judiciary around."

Asked on how the body could be disbanded as they report directly to the Prime Minister and sidestep the role of the Cabinet altogether, Khairy said that it is up to the prime minister.

“It is not a legal entity and it was set up before (the full) Cabinet (was formed), therefore it's the PM’s decision. He can at any time dissolve it.

“As far as I'm concerned, it is an unofficial council to advise the PM .. but the problem is that it has gone beyond that,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ayer Hitam MP and MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong urged the government to stipulate the powers of the CEP.

"We want to know what are their powers and jurisdiction and whether can they make certain decisions on behalf of the government.

"We've seen (CEP) chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin being given a special mission to China.

"This is not just a social visit or visiting friends.

"Previously, Pakatan stated that they had opposed to the position of a special envoy to the Prime Minister.

"Is this the same practice?," asked Wee.

Khairy had earlier in the Dewan Rakyat also questioned the role of the CEP.

During the Ministers Question Time, Khairy insinuated that the CEP appeared to be more powerful than its stated advisory role, as seen in its purported ability to order Chief Justice Tun Raus Sharif to resign from the top judicial position.

“The CEP has stirred up much concern. What is the source of CEP’s power as it not only gives advice (to the government) but also summoned the then-Chief Justice (Raus) and ordered him to step down.

“That was not an advice. That was an order,” he said as loud murmurs reverberated among other opposition MPs in Parliament.

Khairy then further questioned the extent of CEP’s influence by alluding to the recent China visit by its chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin, as well as its member Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Abdul Aziz’s appointment to chair both Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Sime Darby Property Bhd.

“When will this unelected CEP be abolished?,” Khairy asked Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

The minister then reminded Khairy that CEP’s establishment is the norm as previous BN administrations had also set up special advisory bodies.

“(The issue of) accountability and locus standi (of the CEP) does not arise as it is a body with no legal power. Its advice (to the government) is non-binding,” said Liew.

Khairy then asked Liew whether Daim’s visit to China was in a mere advisory capacity due to his purported negotiation with the people there.

Amid loud whispers among MPs, Liew countered that the visit was

"just a visit" as Daim was asked to do so by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“CEP was only established for a 100 days. After 100 days, it will be disbanded,” he said.

The whole exchange took place when Liew was answering the main question from Datuk Rozman Isli (BN-Labuan) on what advice had CEP given to the government for institutional reforms and which reforms had been implemented.

With regards to the main question, Liew said that the government is still looking into the advice given and that CEP would give further advice in the future.

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