SOCIAL media users are calling on those who need help during the lockdown to raise a white flag outside their homes, and on others to provide assistance when they see these flags.

These messages are being posted on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtags #RakyatJagaRakyat and #BenderaPutih, in a sign of a deepening anger towards the government, which just extended the movement control order (MCO) indefinitely.

It isn’t clear who began the white flag campaign, but social media posts on the subject began yesterday and have increased overnight.

People are sharing widely what appears to be the original post of a picture of a white flag with the following message: “My advice to all those in need, who have no food, raise a white flag at your house… let those around you help by giving as little or as much as they can. 

“Don’t take measures that will only harm yourself and your family. Avoid stress, share if you have problems. 

“Don’t need to beg, don’t need to feel shy, just fly a white flag and hope that others will come to help,” said the message.

Twitter users who picked up on it are urging others to share the message widely, with many saying the government can no longer be depended on to help those in dire straits after prolonged lockdowns and Covid-19 cases still on the high side.

“Crazy, it’s truly #RakyatJagaRakyat as this point (because) our government has repeatedly failed us… just step down,” said @furrarie, who tagged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in her post.

“Help another fellow Malaysian who needs it today. No one is taking care of us. We need to be there for each other,” tweeted @iamjoelee.

“Raise your white flags, white shirt if you need helping hands. I know you are tired. Please, please please, stick around. You are not alone… Stay strong Malaysia. The government failed us but we must not fail each other,” tweeted @elyaaalyaa.

Other hashtags are also being introduced as social media users pour out their frustrations over the prolonged lockdown, insufficient aid and news of suicides that reportedly took place in recent days.

One new hashtag is #KerajaanBangsat, which some Twitter users said should replace the previous trending hashtag #KerajaanGagal. The latter means ‘failed government’, while ‘bangsat’ is an expletive.

“#KerajaanBangsat is trending. It’s not a good sign for a government, but a good sign for the people. People knows (sic) what are they doing. Keep fighting for our rights!” tweeted a user named Amirul.

“More than a year ago, Muhyiddin and gang thought they were smart. Took over the government while having dinner buffet.

“Today they lost the plot. People are literally dying and killing themselves because the government that wanted to rule cannot handle the job. Aptly named #KerajaanBangsat,” tweeted another user named Jules.

Muhyiddin announced a RM150 billion Pemulih aid package yesterday, which offers more cash handouts as well as more withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund, and a six-month moratorium on loans.

There is also more assistance for small and medium enterprises, and an expanded wage subsidy programme.

However, business and SME groups have said the only real solution is to allow more economic sectors to operate, which they say can be done under stricter standard operating procedure and by ramping up vaccinations against Covid-19.

The ongoing lockdown has been in place nationwide since June 1, and was to have expired yesterday.

It has been extended indefinitely until key indicators are met, according to Muhyiddin’s national recovery plan. Then, he said he will loosen restrictions. Daily Covid-19 cases have to drop to below 4,000 on average, and 10% of the population must be vaccinated, and more ICU beds must be available.

In the past week, Covid-19 cases have been trending at over 5,000 daily, while only 6.5% of the population has been vaccinated. – June 29, 2021.