Muhyiddin to head NRC, receives minister status

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been appointed chairman of the National Recovery Council and accorded ministerial status.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said the Cabinet decided this on Sept 1 and the appointment had been presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“This appointment was made based on the government’s confidence in Muhyiddin’s capability to spearhead the country’s recovery strategy in order to achieve the best economic impact and improve the people’s livelihood affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He also said the government congratulated the former prime minister on his appointment.

Muhyiddin tendered his resignation as prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Aug 16 after having held the position since March 2020.

Muhyiddin thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for the appointment, and the King for assenting to it.

He pledged to carry out his duties to the best of his abilities, adding that he would do so willingly without any remuneration.

“The confidence placed on me by the government is a heavy responsibility for me to continue with all the plans drawn up to lift the country out of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added in a statement.