KUALA LUMPUR – Former trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz acknowledges the formation of the National Recovery Council (NRC) as a mechanism to steer the country away from crisis, but cautioned that the right approaches must be taken.
She said for the country to avoid a multi-faceted crisis, several measures must be expeditiously implemented on the grounds of national interest.
Among her recommendations are to ramp up the vaccination rate in the country and make sure foreign workers receive their immunisation.
“Offering free Covid-19 vaccines to millions of foreign workers in Malaysia will see control of clusters emerging in factories, plantations and construction sites.”
Rafidah said it is crucial for each ministry to complete its respective recovery plans within three months, adding that each minister should consult stakeholders to understand the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.
“(The ministries) must draw up comprehensive plans, with timelines for implementation in the short, medium and long term.
“(Also), the formulation of a national recovery budget that itemises what allocations are needed is important.”
She said these reports by the respective ministries should form part of the National Recovery Plan.
NRC should take the duty of deliberating measures to be taken by the ministries, she added.
It was DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who initially recommended Rafidah to be part of the council, saying she will not be afraid to speak the truth.
The idea for the formation of a National Recovery Council was initially mooted by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, and subsequently adopted by the Perikatan Nasional administration.
Yesterday, it was reported that Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had invited opposition parties to send representatives to be part of the council.
Current NRC members are Khazanah Research Institute chairman Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop; former Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar; AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes; World Health Organization Science Council member Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman; Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai; SME Association of Malaysia president Datuk Michael Kang; Education director-general Datuk Habibah Abdul Rahim and Assoc Prof Sivakumar Thurairajasingam. – The Vibes, July 24, 2021
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