With the pandemic still raging on, it may seem as if there isn’t any light at the end of the tunnel!
Due to the surge of COVID-19 cases, this is certainly the worst of times for us Malaysians, especially with the extension of MCO 3.0 which has had little to no effect in reducing COVID cases. Despite the hardships, fellow Malaysians have come up with a campaign namely #KempenBenderaPutih (White Flag Campaign) to help those who are hit the hardest by the pandemic.
#RakyatJagaRakyat hashtag is trending on Twitter, and many turned to this platform for timely updates on Malaysians who are in dire need of help.
This campaign was initiated on social media recently and netizens have been sharing variations of the same message since yesterday. It’s still vague on who is behind this campaign and how it was incepted, but the movement to raise white flags in the residences of those who had lost their food supply began to gain traction.
Its a good move! Support. Remember to kick them bums out of government come GE15! #Malaysia Let us support the "White Flag"! Help those in need! #RakyatJagaRakyat https://t.co/JPbq00atZP
— KammoSiWong (@KammoSiWong) June 28, 2021
In actual context, the White Flag symbolises a flag that is waved to show that you accept defeat or do not intend to attack but in the Malaysian context, the white flag really means to extend the necessary help to those in need. An applaudable initiative by the rakyat for the rakyat.
Basic necessities have always been a major issue since MCO 1.0 which began in March 2020. However, since the birth of the campaign, Malaysians have responded favourably by constantly providing moral support and financial assistance to folks that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I think this is one of the alternative untuk meminta bantuan. Manusia perlu makan dan minum untuk teruskan hidup tapi maruah masih ada untuk tidak meminta minta.
"#BenderaPutih bukan bererti kalah, tapi jalan terakhir sebelum rebah" pic.twitter.com/YacBK6UeCA
— Projek Hitam (@projekhitam) June 28, 2021
https://twitter.com/3ff3mall/status/1408981103487029249?s=20
“To the poor, if there’s no food, raise #benderaputih in your home, let the people around help as much as they can. Don’t take actions that harm yourself and your family. There is no need to be ashamed. Just wave the white cloth!”
Among other things, such messages are accompanied by a message not to take ‘drastic’ action in the face of difficulties. Low-income families are more likely to be unemployed, work fewer hours, and have more difficulty accessing healthcare and home-based learning. COVID-19 has also worsened food shortages among low-income households, causing many of them to adopt less healthy diets, threatening to exacerbate Malaysia’s rising child malnutrition crisis.
The public reaction is followed by the failure of the PN government led by Tan Sri Mahiaddin Yasin to manage the COVID-19 pandemic which has ravaged the lives of many since its takeover from the Pakatan Harapan government.
If you are at your wits end and feel like all hope is gone, please do not take your life as there are people out there that are more than willing to help. Asking for help in such challenging times is not to be ashamed off, in fact it takes great courage to be vulnerable sometimes in order to receive assistance. Hence, raise a white flag and the rest will come to you in unexpected ways.
Our lives may not have been as awful, but we all require help at some point in life! Humility brings honour.
Let’s be there for each other during this tough season!
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