Dr Mahathir's 'council of elders' concept not in Constitution - Salleh

A council of elders to run the country as suggested by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not provided for in the Federal Constitution and contrary to the Westminster system of government, said Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

The Communications and Multimedia Minister said Dr Mahathir had mooted the idea of a presidential council of elders in 2008.

"More than seven years later, he is still pushing for that to be implemented although there is no such system in the Constitution or in a Westminster system of government," he posted on his blog sskeruak.blogspot.com Wednesday.

Salleh was responding to an English news daily analysis 'De facto PM role for Dr M?' which told of Dr Mahathir's plan to have a council of elders to advise the Prime Minister of his choice.

If he wanted such a council, Salleh asked, why did he not change the system when he was Prime Minister for 22 years?

Salleh said Dr Mahathir wanted to change the current Prime Minister and then let Malaysians decide on what system they preferred after Malaysia gets a new Prime Minister.

"Since Dr Mahathir wants to allow Malaysians to decide their own future, what if Malaysians decide they still want Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Prime Minister? Is Dr Mahathir prepared to agree to this?

"While he is prepared to allow Malaysians to decide what system they want, Dr Mahathir wants to dictate who should be Prime Minister and will not allow Malaysians to make that decision," Salleh said.