PETALING JAYA: Businessman Robert Kuok has returned to Malaysia to attend his first meeting with the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP), Bernama reported.

Kuok was named as one of the five members in the new CEP, three days after Pakatan Harapan toppled the Barisan Nasional government.

The 94-year old arrived at Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur at 10am Tuesday, and met with other council members - Tun Daim Zainuddin, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Tan Sri Hassan Marican and Prof Jomo Kwame Sundaram - before the meeting.

The council is scheduled to meet Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar and Employees Provident Fund chief executive officer Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan.

They are also scheduled to meet with officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism, Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Economic Planning Unit.

In an exclusive interview with Nanyang Siang Pau recently, Daim, who heads the CEP, said that he had personally spoken to Kuok over the telephone and confirmed that the businessman would arrive in Malaysia this week.

“Robert Kuok has extensive experience in business and finance. He is well-versed in the industries of commodities, real estate, hotel and tourism.

“Therefore, his suggestions are important. I can say that he is an all-rounder,” said Daim.

Daim also noted that Kuok, who now resides in Hong Kong, would not stay too long in Malaysia.

He said that PPB Group Bhd chairman Tan Sri Oh Siew Nam would attend meetings in Kuok’s absence.