Touting govt aid, Muhyiddin says no need to raise white or black flags

 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today said the government was offering aid to various target groups during the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore, there was no need to put up white flags in order to seek aid.

He added that the kitchens of most people who need help are filled with supplies and improvements will be made to deal with those who slip through the cracks.

The premier said this in reference to the community-based white flag campaign, which had been providing food and other necessities to people who hang a white flag outside their house.

“There is no need to hang a white or black flag, but it’s okay to hang a blue flag,” Muhyiddin said while donning a shirt in the colours of Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) blue.

“What I mean is that we know where (people need help) and the (Women, Family and Community Development) Ministry has a record.

“I was informed by the minister (Rina Harun) that the recipients are recorded,” he added.

While the white flag campaign is aimed at providing aid to those who are in dire straits, the black flag campaign is a protest against the government's alleged mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Muhyiddin, who visited the Bakul Prihatin Negara aid distribution centre at Dewan Perdana Nur in Putrajaya this morning, stressed that most people are getting the necessary aid.

“I think if we go to the ground we will probably find the kitchen of homes to be full (with supplies).

“I’m not saying this is the case for everyone, that’s why we have a registration system so that the distribution is done fairly.

“We don’t want a situation where one person gets 10 boxes (of kitchen supplies) while others do not get any,” he said.

The aid centre had prepared 420,000 packages of staple food worth around RM50 each, which will benefit 1.68 million recipients.

the programme is managed by the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Muhyiddin said the aid involved an allocation of RM5 million from the Prime Minister’s Department and RM16 million from the private sector.

Each package contains food items including rice, salt and sugar, flour, vermicelli, soy sauce, canned sardines, biscuits and coffee.

Those who need food aid can apply through Talian Kasih at 15999.

As the lockdown to contain Covid-19 drags on, the government is distributing food and kitchen supplies to help the hardest-hit communities, many of whom are unable to earn an income during this time.

Muhyiddin thanked all quarters who had helped during the pandemic.

“I would like to thank the political bodies, be it from PN and the others, NGOs and associations for their continuous help.

“It is a good example where Malaysians help each other during tough times,” he said.

- Mkini