KUALA LUMPUR: The National Recovery Plan (NRP) is to ensure that there is a systematic transition out of the Covid-19 Crisis, enabling Malaysians to make necessary preparations to live in the new normal, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
In a special media interview today, Muhyiddin described the NRP as a progressive, dynamic and inclusive plan, adding that Malaysia was the first country "brave enough" to draw up a holistic recovery plan.
"We need to be proactive and prepare an orderly and precise framework and policy.
"We recognise that this is challenging, especially with the new variants, such as Delta Plus which spreads rapidly. So (we cannot say yet) whether the NRP is successful or not, because we have just launched it.
"This plan cannot be completed within a week, nor can we see its effects in a month. It would take time for us to evaluate," he said.
Muhyiddin said eight states in the country had progressed into Phase Two of the NRP, with some ready to move into Phase Three, including Sarawak and Perlis.
This, he added, could be an indicator of the NRP, and ramped up vaccination efforts.
"We have achieved more than 500,000 vaccinations a day, an excellent record compared to other countries."
The country's recovery, however, does not end after Phase Four of the NRP, said Muhyiddin, adding that economic recovery would only begin after that and once the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) is completed.
"These measures (for economic recovery) would be (announced) perhaps in the 2022 Budget, or in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
"It will take a bit of a long and painful recovery, but I do believe and have the confidence that we will survive this test. Give the government a chance.
"This is a whole of nation approach, which also depends on the support of all, including the public, non-governmental organisations, and others."