PETALING JAYA: The newly mooted National Recovery Council (NRC) has invited representatives from opposition parties, Sabah and Sarawak state governments as well as multi-industry experts and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as members.

       National Recovery Plan coordinating minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said that their membership is in line with the council's principle of inclusion, collaboration and whole-of-nation approach.

       "The National Recovery Council has agreed to invite representatives from the opposition parties of Pakatan Harapan, Parti Warisan Sabah and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air as members.

       "At the same time, the NRC has also agreed to invite representatives from the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak to join as members," he said in a statement on Friday (July 23).

       The NRC also welcomes the involvement of experts from various industries, the private sector, NGOs as well as economic, social and health experts who have agreed to share their views and experiences, he said.

       The list of experts include Khazanah Research Institute chairman Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, former Khazanah Nasional Berhad managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Anthony Fernandes as well as International AIDS Society president-elect and Malaysian AIDS Foundation chairman Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman.

       Also contributing their expertise are Star Media Group advisor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, SME Association of Malaysia president Datuk Michael Kang, former Education Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder and child rights activist Datuk Dr Hartini Zainuddin as well as Dr Sivakumar Thurairajasingam from the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Science.

       Earlier on Friday (July 23), Tengku Zafrul said the NRC held its first meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       Other council members include Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

       Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and National Security Council director-general Datuk Rodzi Md Saad are also members.

       Tengku Zafrul said NRC's membership composition which included opposition party representatives, experts and icons from various sectors will beef up the council and the implementation of the National Recovery Plan, which has a dynamic nature and must be adaptive to the current situation.

       "The NRC hopes that this wide variety of views and expertise could contribute to among others, empowerment of the health sector, ramping up of vaccination efforts as well as coordination, implementation and effectiveness of standard operating procedures (SOP), along with government support and assistance during the recovery period," said Tengku Zafrul.

       He added that the NRC will also convey information to the rakyat in a transparent and easy to understand manner via its official portal, which will be launched on Monday (July 26).