“The question of accountability does not arise with the CEP, and its members are not bound by specific laws. They only act as advisers to the government,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying to a query by Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) on the accountability of the CEP and whether it was acting beyond its role as an advisory body.

Khairy had questioned recent decisions linked to the CEP, including Daim Zainuddin’s recent visit to China.

He also linked the appointment of former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz as group chairman of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and chairman of Sime Darby Property Sdn Bhd to decisions made by the CEP.

However, Liew said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had instructed Daim to visit China.

“If he was ordered, then he can go,” he added.

“We will listen to their advice. They will only be around for 100 days. After the 100 days, they will be disbanded.”

Khairy had claimed that instructions given by the CEP, including those linked to the resignation of the former attorney-general, did not constitute “advice”.

“The minister (Liew) said the CEP was set up as an advisory body by the government, but these orders that they have given do not reflect mere advice.

“The CEP is a body that was not elected and unaccountable, yet it is given the power to execute these orders. Does this count as advice,” Khairy said.

The CEP was previously questioned by those who asked if it was set up for political purposes and whether it was taking over the powers of the Cabinet.

They said the CEP was not provided for in the constitution, and called for the constitutionality, legality and authority of the body to be explained or defined.