FROM as early as 8am, more than 100 people will line up outside a church in an industrial area in Selangor, waiting to collect food baskets that are being distributed by the church.

A banner outside the building states that the food basket distribution is from 10am to 11am, from Monday to Friday.

A similar crowd has been forming a line outside this church ever since it started giving away food items to those who are in desperate need a week ago.

The church, which wanted to remain anonymous over its charitable act, said it wants to continue providing the free food items until the end of this week.

Recipients said the food basket contained 5kg rice, cooking oil, flour, Milo packet, noodles, instant noodles and other food items.

When The Malaysian Insight visited the church, some people said they had started lining up as early as 8am so they will not miss out on the food basket due to overwhelming response from the people.

They said several people had return home empty-handed after arriving at 10am.

P. Ramasamy, 64, who works as a delivery assistant for a pharmacy company, said he had chanced upon the food aid programme when he came to deliver goods in the vicinity.

“I arrived late so I couldn’t get the aid. I’m a retiree and have to fend for my wife as our children have all got married and have families of their own,” said Ramasamy, who lives in Puchong.

“Looking at the food aid, it will easily help us last for two weeks. I will be coming again early tomorrow to try and get the aid.”

Christie Siew, who came from the Lagoon Perdana apartments, said she also had missed the food aid as the quota for the day was filled.

“I found out about the food aid programme from my church group. I came here to collect the food basket for my neighbour, who is more than 70 years old and unwell,” she said.

“Since I missed it, I will try to come earlier for the next round. I might come again tomorrow.”

She also praised the organisers for helping the needy.

Indonesian Maria Francisca, 35, who lost her job as a restaurant worker, said she found out about the aid from her friends.

“I have been out of a job since the total lockdown as the restaurant is closed. I’m eight months’ pregnant and have a five-year-old child. This aid will help my family,” she said.

Another Indonesian, Christo Baa, 30, said he has been out of a job for more than two months as the car wrap workshop he works at has been closed since the lockdown.

“I came last week but the aid had finished. So, I decided to come early and get it. This should last us for more than a week,” he said.

Since last week, social media users have been urging those who need help during the lockdown to raise a white flag outside their homes, and others to provide assistance when they see these flags.

These messages were posted on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtags #RakyatJagaRakyat and #BenderaPutih.

The Kita Jaga Malaysia website, which was launched on July 5, has also swamped by thousands seeking aid.

One of the founders, Reza Razali, said within a week, more than 7,000 people have asked for support and the number was growing.

He also told The Malaysian Insight that even more people – more than 15,000 at the last count – were willing to contribute to the needy, either in the form of food, groceries and other essential items.

On July 1, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said several subdistricts and localities in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur would be placed under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO).

Ismail said the EMCO was decided upon based on risk assessments, which showed that these areas had high infection rates.

Today, Malaysia reported 8,574 new infections, with more than half of the cases, 4,308 infections, being in Selangor.

The fresh cases have raised the cumulative caseload to 844,870. – July 12, 2021.