PUTRAJAYA: States are expected to have their own recovery committees soon, similar to the National Recovery Council.
Council chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet had approved the set up of the entities in order to speed up the process of recovering the national economy, among others.
The former prime minister said this after taking questions from the press on the relevance of the council which he chairs, especially now that the government had embraced endemicity.
"Yes, they (the council and committees) are still relevant to chart the way to recovery. That responsibility should not be solely on the federal government, but also on the shoulders of the states.
"This is because local authorities have the duty and responsibility of resolving issues that are very localised," he said after chairing the National Recovery Council in the Finance Ministry here today.
He said the Cabinet had approved the proposal in principle and only required the sign off from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for its implementation.
"The council and Cabinet have approved the proposal, and all the prime minister needs to do is to sign the letter," he added.
The National Recovery Plan was launched by Muhyiddin when he was then prime minister.
Earlier, the government announced that the nation would transition into the endemic phase of the national recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, starting from April 1.
This saw the lifting of restrictions and opening of the economic sectors and international borders. Currently, there is no sector and industry that remains on the Covid-19 negative list.
Muhyiddin also said the council discussed the war in Ukraine and the lockdown in China due to Covid-19, which would affect the food supply chain and accelerating inflation.
He also said the council intended to hold its inaugural conference at the year end where it would present its plans to map out the nation's recovery.