KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 20): The five-man Council of Eminent Persons (CEP), which has completed its 100-day mandate to assist the Pakatan Harapan government in fulfilling its election promises, has prepared a comprehensive report on its recommendations to be sent to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad upon his expected return tomorrow after a five-day visit to China, said CEP chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin.

Over the course of the 100 days, the CEP met over 350 individuals from more than 200 organisations, ranging from regulatory enforcement agencies, bankers, trade associations, chambers of commerce, corporations, SMEs, consumers, producers, retailers, contractors, taxi drivers, hawkers, farmers, activists, artists, NGOs, the disabled community and many others.

"Our engagements with these stakeholders were crucial to the work of the council as they enabled us to gather ground level input and issues facing the economy and the Rakyat," Daim, a former Finance Minister, told reporters here today.

"We thank them for sharing their views, concerns, and recommendations with us," he added.

According to Daim, the comprehensive CEP report will revolve around the need to improve governance, the well-being of the rakyat and the need to ensure that the economy is inclusive and sustainable.

The CEP was established on May 12, 2018, shortly after the conclusion of the 14th general election, which resulted in the establishment of the Pakatan Harapan coalition as the new government, with the objective of advising the Prime Minister on socio-economic and financial matters.

Apart from Daim, the CEP comprises: former Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Hassan Merican, former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, renowned economist Prof Jomo Kwame Sundaram, and business tycoon Robert Kuok, who is represented by veteran banker Tan Sri Oh Siew Nam.