Mahathir announces top three senior ministers, Elders Council (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced three senior ministers in the cabinet line-up for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
He announced DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as Finance Minister, PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Home Affairs Minister and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu as Defense Minister.
He also announced the decision to form an Elders Council to oversee the government administration and decision-making process.
Its members include former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainudin, former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, industry moghul Tan Sri Robert Kuok, former Petronas president Tan Sri Hassan Marican and economist Prof Jomo Kwame Sundram.
As for the remaining seven ministries in the senior cabinet, Mahathir said that he had requested for each party in the coalition to submit three names each for consideration.
"Of those names, we will study them carefully and pick the most qualified and appropriate candidate and the final decision will be made by the Prime Minister following consultation will all party heads," he said.
He stressed that all PH component parties, namely PPBM, Amanah, DAP and PKR, will have equal representation in the cabinet.
Mahathir also proposed the introduction of a small cabinet consisting of ten ministries with 25 members, but this is subject to an increase of members depending on the ongoing situation in East Malaysia.
"There will be a necessity to add Sabah and Sarawak later on into the cabinet, we need to find out Parti Warisan's stand, (Datuk Seri) Shafie Apdal has supported us so I expect the numbers to increase," the Prime Minister said during a press conference at the PPBM headquarters, today.
Addressing the setting up of the Council of Elders, Mahathir explained that this was done because the newly formed government either has little or zero experience in running things at the federal level, with the senior stalwarts being able to help stabilise and advise the ministers appropriately.
"They will advise the cabinet. The council will also go through what the previous government has done and get their feedback reports to investigate any misdeeds or misappropriation.
"They will study a lot of things over the past years from 2009 as we want to take action as quick as possible on the past government," he said.
Touching on former premier Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, he confirmed that he had ordered the ban on Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor from leaving the country.
"My actions are based on sufficient evidence that an investigation has to be done.
"Therefore, I have placed some restrictions on those who are believed to be involved in wrongdoing while investigations are underway," he said.
The actions, he stressed, was due to the many complaints which have been filed against Najib.
Mahathir also confirmed that he ordered the police to lift the Official Secrets Act (Osa) on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) report.
"I've told them to lift it and I will personally study it and those involved in wrongdoing will face the law," he added.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Sabu, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu, said that his first duty when he steps into his ministry is to conduct further investigations into the controversial Armed Forces land privatisation deals involving the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT).
"That will be the first thing I would like to focus on when I assume the role soon," he told reporters following the press conference.