MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun today claimed that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's insistence on keeping the Council of Eminent Persons showed that he distrusts his own ministers.

"Mahathir holds no confidence in his own cabinet because he still refuses to dissolve the CEP even though 100 days of Pakatan Harapan rule has passed," she said in a statement today.

The council, formed shortly after the May 9 polls, comprised former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petronas president Mohd Hassan Marican, economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram and tycoon Robert Kuok.

Daim had indicated that the council was to last for 100 days, but Mahathir later said this was the council's own statement, adding that he still needed them to advise him.

Chew claimed that the CEP was taking over the role of ministers, and also questioned why DAP and PKR had not spoken up over the extension of the council's term beyond 100 days.

"If they agree with Mahathir's decision, does this mean that they are admitting that they are not qualified?

"If this is so, then all of them should relinquish their posts and give way to others," she said.

Chew also stressed that the MCA will play its role of 'check and balance' against the government.