KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — The government must ensure that the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) does not exceed its purview and dissolve it if it does, said Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.

The former Umno Youth chief was commenting on the recent controversy surrounding CEP chief Tun Daim Zainuddin’s visit to China and stressed that the council has no force in law.

"The establishment of the CEP was not even done by federal administration as it was formed before Cabinet. It was the prime minister’s decision, who can at any time disband it.

"As far as I'm concerned, it is an unofficial council that was tasked to advise the PM … it has a wide remit and has gone beyond that remit,” he told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat, today.

Khairy said the CEP was supposed to act as an advisory board to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government mainly on economic matters, and should not have the power to make decisions or execute orders.

He questioned the rationale behind Daim’s visit to China before the official visit by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as it exceeds the council’s responsibility and raises the issue of accountability as the CEP is unaccountable and unelected.

"Why did the visit take place? Do we not have our own Foreign Minister, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah? Why must Tun Daim go to China before the prime minister and foreign minister when the CEP is only supposed to be an advisory body?” he asked.

"People need to know what Tun Daim and the China leaders talked about as it was said that he was sent to discuss the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China.”

Citing the orders by the council for former chief justice Tun Md Raus Sharif and former Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin to step down, Khairy said this had raised doubts about the appointment process as the two positions are bound by the Federal Constitution and Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009.

Khairy also said the appointment of former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar, as the group chairman of Permodalan National Bhd (PNB) and Sime Darby Property Bhd chairman, is a conflict of interest as the council acts as an advisory board on economic matters.

"While I recognise her capabilities, this is a conflict of interest as the CEP was formed to advise on economic matters as a national service. But at the same time, within 100 days, she (Zeti) was appointed to two prominent GLCs (government-linked company).

"I have voiced the concerns of the people about their uneasiness over the CEP. The Malaysian government is based on the executive, legislature, and judiciary. We don’t have a fourth branch, which is the CEP. The answers given earlier were not clear,” said Khairy, referring to the supplementary question that he posed in the Dewan Rakyat on when the government would disband the council.

Earlier during Question Time, Minister in Prime Minister’s department Datuk Liew Vui Keong defended the formation of the council and said Daim had gone to China on the orders of Dr Mahathir.

"If the council had been ordered to visit to get feedback on matters involving the two countries, they may do so.

"The issue of accountability is placed on the Cabinet ministers. Therefore, the report handed over to the government by the council is not binding. We will review, listen and make a decision after that,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

"We need to make sure we cooperate with the CEP as it has only been in existence for 100 days. After that, it will be disbanded.”

Liew said since the establishment of the CEP on May 12, the council has met with almost 340 individuals from nearly 220 organisations to hear their ideas and recommendations.

He said the recommendations would be refined by the council and presented to the Federal government for its consideration.

"The CEP’s role is only in the capacity of an advisory body. It has no executive powers,” he said.