CIVIL society groups Bersih 2.0 and Engage have come up with a food-voucher initiative to get around restrictions under the Covid-19 movement-control order (MCO) prohibiting charity workers from directly providing meals to the needy.

Using funds raised via #MakanKongsi, vouchers for food at participating eateries will be given to underprivileged groups.

“We will pay the restaurants the next day based on the vouchers they receive. This way, our recipients can come at any time during the day, twice a day, to collect their meals on a takeaway basis. The vouchers are date- and meal-specified,” said Bersih in a statement.

The electoral watchdog said this method is fully MCO-compliant.

“As such, it is not affected by the restriction placed by the National Security Council on civil groups providing much-needed food to the homeless and needy.”

Urging the public to donate to #MakanKongsi, it said the target is to raise RM300,000, which can provide two meals a day until the MCO ends on April 14.

Since the initiative’s launch on March 20, RM137,000 has been raised, enough to feed 1,124 people during the order’s enforcement period, which was initially set to end today.

Given the extension, said Bersih, the aim now is to provide meals for up to 2,000 people, among them daily wage earners affected by the government directive.

Those keen to donate can get more information on Bersih’s website.

Putrajaya’s order on Saturday for civil groups to stop providing food directly to the homeless, refugees and other vulnerable groups sparked an outcry.

Activists have urged the government to review its decision, and to let groups continue operating with precautions, such as practising social distancing and wearing masks, in place.

Under the MCO, eateries are only allowed to cater to deliveries and takeaways. – March 31, 2020.