The newly-established Council of Eminent Persons is free to call upon anyone to assist its information gathering mission but decisions can only be made by the prime minister.

This was clarified by the spokesperson for the council, which is also known as Council of Elders, A Kadir Jasin, today.

“We can only gather information, formulate plans and programmes, and present them to the prime minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad).

“Decision making is by the prime minister and the cabinet.

“We have very limited power… but we can call anybody relevant who can help us in finding out on the state of the economy as it is today,” Kadir told members of the press after paying de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim a visit at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital today. 

The council, which was announced by Mahathir on Saturday, is comprised of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petronas president Mohd Hassan Merican, tycoon Robert Kuok, and economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram. 

At the time, the prime minister said the council will conduct studies and prepare papers for the cabinet while ministries are being set up.

It will also assist the new government in implementing its 100-day promises in its manifesto, and is expected to last for approximately the same duration.