White flag for aid: Zuraida joins in, Amanah to turn it political

 

The white flag campaign for those in dire straits to signal for help has caught the attention of politicians.

Local Government and Housing Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin and Amanah are among those who have hitched a ride on the campaign - which uses the hashtag #benderaputih.

The campaign urges people who need immediate help to put up a white flag at their homes to alert others for assistance, be it food or necessities.

In a tweet posted by her social media administrator today, Zuraida said those who need aid don't have to beg or be ashamed, but can just raise a white flag.

"I am together with the #benderaputih campaign to identify those who need help," she said, adding another hashtag #actionbeyondpolitics.

Meanwhile, Amanah's mobilisation bureau will be putting up white flags nationwide tomorrow.

A WhatsApp message from bureau chief Mohd Sany Hamzan said each area should have at least 10 white flags. He confirmed the message as authentic when contacted today.

Sany told Malaysiakini the objective of Amanah's operations tomorrow is to get the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government to resign.

"We demand the failed federal government to resign and give the mandate to the party which has the people's mandate," he said.

Sany also denied that this would distract from the aid campaign.

"We're not putting up flags at homes but at public areas such as the roads, signboards, and pedestrian bridges.

"Those who need aid will put up white flags at their homes," he said.

Local Government and Housing Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin

Both Zuraida and Amanah's plans to join the white flag campaign were panned on social media.

For the minister, notable critics included Pakatan Harapan politicians such as Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.

"A Sheraton Move power grabber doesn't know how to do their job. Based in Putrajaya but asks people to wave a white flag? Nonsense," Yeoh said.

DAP's Syahredzan Johan tweeted that ministers should not appropriate initiatives by the public.

"Ministers have power, are in the cabinet. Use those powers so the people don't have to wave white flags," he added.

Twitter user Farid Farish said the white flag campaign also symbolised the failure of the PN government.

Harapan Youth chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin - who is also Amanah Youth chief - likewise said the white flag campaign symbolised PN's failures.

He added that they supported the campaign in hopes that it will bring help to those in need to survive until the Covid-19 pandemic ends.

However, social media users were not impressed by the political "hijacking" of the people's campaign. 

Commenting on Sany's plans, Twitter user with the handle @moklins said politicians were being shameless.

"The people initiated this (white flag campaign) because they're really struggling, but politicians are stupidly turning this into a political rivalry. Don't you have shame?" she asked last night.

Another Twitter user called Injang Nation, slammed both the government and opposition for "hijacking" the people's initiatives.

"The government and opposition are racing to hijack each of the people's initiatives that were started because of their own failures to govern the country. Both sides are idiots," Injang Nation said.

Previously, at the start of the pandemic last year, the public initiated the #kitajagakita campaign to help out others who needed assistance when the government enforced the first movement control order.

This was then co-opted by the government, prompting the people to shift to the phrase #rakyatjagarakyat instead - which was then also used by the opposition against the government. - Mkini