The White Flag Project or #BenderaPutih calls upon people needing assistance to wave a white cloth outside their house or to reach out for help without fear or shame, following a slew of suicide cases among people who had been struggling to get by.
The campaign poster, spread online on Tuesday night, triggered a wave of posts by private individuals attempting to reach out to those in dire situations.
Many of those taking part have pointed to the failure of the current administration to protect the people’s welfare during the pandemic.
Here are some individuals and organisations helping Malaysians in need:
1. Nur Dinie Mohd Fadil
Nur Dinie aims to reach out to those in desperate need in Negeri Sembilan. Donations will be used to fund food and cash aid, among other essential items.
You may reach her at 019 4203209.
2. Alya Syahida Allias
Alya Syahida is raising money for 229 families at Kampung Sokoon, Kampung Lubang Buaya and Kampung Batongon in Sabah who have been struggling throughout the MCO. The locations can only be accessed by boat.
Most of the villagers are farmers, rubber tappers and oil palm plantation labourers.
She needs to raise RM22,900 to help the families. It will be used to arrange for food and other assistance for the affected persons.
You may reach her at 013 2513211.
3. Shariffa Sabrina
Shariffa runs Tanah Aina Cafe at Batu Tiga, Shah Alam. The restaurant will be giving out free takeaway meals for those in need every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Individuals may drop by at her restaurant from 11 am to 5 pm or from 6pm to 8pm. You may contact 03-55243258 for more information.
4. The Lockdown Kit
The Lockdown Kit is an anonymous page on Instagram aiming to distribute food and essential items nationwide to people who need them.
They initially aimed to send out 30 parcels by July 5. They have so far filled up all 30 slots but will be taking up more.
The packages include five packs of instant noodles, mee hoon, flour, chilli flakes, biscuits, sardine, tea, Milo, instant ketupat and an instant microwaveable meal. It will also include personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, soap and sanitary pads for women who need them.
To request for a package, you may reach them via direct message at @lockdownkit on Instagram with your name, address and telephone number. Packages will be despatched in two to three days.
5. Dr Jezamine Lim
Lim’s group, The Hope Branch, distributes about 1,500 cooked meals a week, with a focus on the homeless and B40 communities in areas with urban poverty in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
Her group also distributes food to families living in People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats such as PPR Pantai Dalam, PPR Shah Alam, PPR Lembah Subang, PPR Kota Damansara and PPR Jinjang.
It also distributes fresh food such as poultry and vegetables to those who are able to cook.
“We are trying very hard to keep this sustainable. We get patrons who have lost their jobs, single mothers or hawkers to cook the fresh meals so that they have an ongoing income.”
The group has also given out 2,051 packages of dry foodstuff during MCO 3.0 alone.
It welcomes contributions of any kind including dry food and face masks. You may contact The Hope Branch at 019 7093103.