Sabah DAP’s Luyang rep Phoong Jin Zhe said there are eight families living in the house at Taman Che Mei in Lido here, which falls under his constituency.

Phoong said although state authorities have not issued any warnings to the people not to hoist such flags in Sabah, the occupants became concerned after hearing what transpired in Pahang yesterday, where people have been warned against putting up such flags.

“Instead, the residents put up a placard with the words ‘we need help’ and pinned it on their gate,” he told FMT.

He said the house occupants just wanted to play it safe, adding they had no money to pay for any kind of fines now.

Yesterday, Pahang police told desperate villagers who had put up white flags to take them down because the flags were hoisted on “public amenities”.

State police chief Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf denied claims that his personnel threatened to fine villagers in Kampung Bukit Setongkol, Kuantan for flying the flags to seek food and assistance.

Instead, he said, they told the villagers that it was “improper” to hoist the flags on public amenities, such as electric poles.

Meanwhile, Phoong said one of the occupants of the house told him that many of the adults in the house had run out of money because they could not go to work due to the lockdown.

The residents are all part-time workers in grocery stores and restaurants.

“He told me he has been renting at the house for 10 years and that many of the other families in the house are facing difficulties because of the current situation.

“But I have to commend the houseowner ‘Mr Lai’ who was kind enough not to demand rental from the families for the time being. His actions deserve praise,” he said.

Phoong visited the house today and handed over food assistance to the residents.