Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is the latest PAS leader to discredit the #BenderaPutih (white flag) campaign, calling on state residents to seek help through “official channels” instead.
According to an Utusan Malaysia report, he characterised the campaign as “political propaganda” against the Perikatan Nasional government.
“I have said many times that this (white flag campaign) is political propaganda that reflects a perception that the government has failed.
“When in fact the government is handling the Covid-19 pandemic well,” he was quoted as saying.
Launched several days ago, #BenderaPutih encourages those who are struggling financially to display a white flag in front of their homes as a sign that they need immediate assistance.
Supermarkets, petrol stations, restaurants, businesses, NGOs, and political parties have since stepped forward to help those who have raised such flags.
Instead of raising flags, Sanusi urged Kedah residents to contact their local Disaster Operations Control Centre (Pusat Kawalan Operasi Bencana or PKOB) or local representatives for help.
“We have already distributed phone numbers of the PKOB in every district and the numbers of the service centres of local representatives for the public to contact to get food aid.
“Now we have social media and messaging applications like Facebook and WhatsApp, individuals who need help can contact PKOB for food without raising a white flag,” he reportedly said.
He later reiterated his point on his Facebook page, discouraging state residents from raising white flags and urging them to contact local authorities or local mosques for food instead.
White flags are SOS
Sanusi has since courted flak for his comments about the campaign.
As of 10pm tonight, the term “Kedah MB” was a trending topic on Malaysian Twitter and had been mentioned in 1,845 tweets.
Opposition MP Teresa Kok was among those who criticised the menteri besar.
“What kind of MB is this?
“Raising a white flag is an act of sending SOS message! Does he know that?” tweeted the Seputeh lawmaker.
Meanwhile, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman disputed that the campaign was political propaganda.
“In Muar today I met a single mother who raised a white flag. Because of the MCO, her children have not been able to come home.
“She was in need. She was struggling to survive until next week because she had run out of necessities and had no money.
“This is not propaganda. Help them, don’t insult!” he said, also on Twitter. - Mkini
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