This #benderaputih poster has been used across social media to urge the rakyat to help each other during these trying times (Photo: Akmal Masduki/Twitter)
In what seemed to be the latest incarnation of the #KitaJagaKita movement, a new initiative has been spreading online, calling those in need of food or essentials to raise a white flag outside their homes.
In its traditional sense, the white flag is raised to indicate defeat or surrender. But this rakyat-spearheaded initiative is a brilliant move to lend a hand to those in need, without having them plead to ask for help.
Netizen Hafizol Hakami, who wrote on his Twitter “No need to plead, no need to be embarrassed" has been retweeted by more than 17,700 users at the time of writing.
For the past few weeks, tragic news and reports of Malaysians being forced to the brink for losing their livelihoods due to the impact of Covid-19 have been swirling on social media.
Since June 1, Malaysia has been in Phase One of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and under total lockdown, with only essential economic and service sectors allowed to operate.
To alleviate the struggles of the rakyat, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced yesterday that the latest government aid package named “Pemulih” will be used to help businesses hurt by the measures to curb Covid-19 in the country.
Worth RM150 billion, the package includes the value of deferred loan repayments under a new six-month moratorium as well as retirement savings withdrawal until the end of the year.
