THE newly registered Pejuang will propose the setting up of a National Recovery Council when Parliament convenes later this month to curb the Covid-19 crisis, said party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Citing the four-phased National Recovery Plan (NRP) exit plan introduced by Prime Minister (PM) Muhyiddin Yassin as a failure, the Langkawi lawmaker said the council he proposes would solely focus on the recovery of people’s condition.

“It is very clear that the NRP is not effective and has failed.

“We need to think of other ways (to overcome the crisis), so Pejuang will propose to set up a National Recovery Council devoted specifically to the rehabilitation of the condition of the people,” the nonagenarian said in a virtual press conference today.

Malaysia was placed under a total lockdown on June 1, hoping to curb the transmission of the Covid-19 virus.

However, ever since the lockdown, the number of daily cases never dropped below the 4,000-mark, while death tally within the period exceeded some 2,500.

Today, the daily death toll hit a record high of 135, with daily cases numbering 8,868.

On June 15, Muhyiddin unveiled the NRP, which projected that the country could reopen its economy and social sector in phases.

Dr Mahathir said the public was becoming stressed over the prolonged ineffective lockdown, which was also increasing the number of suicides.

He said under Pejuang’s proposal, they have already identified ways to combat the pandemic and reduce the number of new infections in the country.

“We suggest forming this council because we already have the framework to curb the pandemic, which includes actions in reducing the number of new cases.

“If this council could be established, I’m confident that we can achieve in reducing the number of new infections and also reduce the psychological stress felt by the people,” he added.

Dr Mahathir said the proposed council would consist of experts from the fields of health, virus, economy, psychiatry, sociology and others who can help to reduce the number of new infections.

He added that at the current critical state, Pejuang would prioritise on ways to combat the pandemic rather than getting involved in a political tussle.

“(Becoming the interim PM) is not our priority, if it happens, we will have to do something about it or think about it.

“Everybody wants to become PM, they care about how much money they will get, they are not interested in helping the people,” he said, adding that Pejuang’s priority now was to focus on overcoming the pandemic. – July 8, 2021.