PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, BERNAMA) - Hong Kong-based Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok has returned to the country to attend his first meeting with the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP).

Tan Sri 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 tycoon arrived at Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur at 10am on Tuesday (May 22), where he met other council members - Tun Daim Zainuddin, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Tan Sri Hassan Marican and Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram - before the meeting.

After the meeting, Mr Kuok told reporters Malaysians should trust the council.

"It consists of very shy Malaysians. I happen to be living in Hong Kong so I don't attend too often," he said. "But Tun Daim, Hassan Merican, Zeti and Jomo, they are excellent people, trust them, trust them."

The council was scheduled to meet Khazanah Nasional managing director Azman Mokhtar and Employees Provident Fund chief executive officer Shahril Ridza Ridzuan.

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

He said: "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."

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

He said that PPB Group chairman Oh Siew Nam would attend meetings in Mr Kuok's absence.