Malaysians in Covid lockdown fly white flags to ask for help
Malaysians struggling amid a strict lockdown are flying white flags outside their homes as a plea for help.
The #benderaputih – or white flag – campaign gained momentum on social media last week, to help lower income families signal distress.
In response, neighbours, celebrities and businesses have offered help, providing food and other essentials.
Malaysia has been under a nationwide lockdown since 1 June to rein in a surge of Covid infections.
Emotional stories of families with depleted savings surviving on one meal a day have made the news in recent weeks.
Suicides have gone up, with police data showing that 468 people have taken their own lives over the first five months of the year, compared to 631 across the entire year in 2020, and 609 the year before.
On Facebook, several #benderaputih groups have been created to help users post pictures and addresses where assistance is required.
Others shared photos of groceries and essential items they could spare, as well as information on nearby food banks.
According to Malaysian newspaper China Press, a fishing village in Kedah received assistance from a volunteer fire department after 20 white flags were raised around the community.
Many households had not earned any income for six weeks and were worried about securing food going forward, the report added.
Businesses have also jumped on the campaign.
Grocery store chain Econsave put out a call on Facebook for people to inform it of white flags, so it could provide aid where it was needed.
“It’s OK not to be okay,” the supermarket wrote.
Awesome Canteen, a popular cafe in Petaling Jaya, had its own take – promising free meals for anyone who approached the cashier with white paper.
Meanwhile, celebrities including rapper Altimet said on Instagram that he and his friends would leave groceries at the doors of homes flying white flags.
Agencies