RECENTLY, a few caring Malaysians mooted the idea of flying the white flag for Malaysians to help fellow desperate Malaysians.

While the idea widely gained traction with many heartwarming stories shared, a few government leaders, most noticeably from PAS, in no small part perhaps, that the idea is said to come from their mortal adversaries, Amanah. More than one leader from the party have gone on record, saying prayers were preferable to “surrender”.  

Well, if their prayers were for the people responsible to do their jobs properly, it certainly went unanswered. 

Then there are the problem deniers – MPs who go to great lengths, even recording videos of white-flag-fliers denying the applicants have a poverty problem. If only such energy is exerted to solve the problem, instead of covering it up, perhaps we really could solve the exponential growth in urban poverty. 

Why would ordinary people debase themselves for help on purpose? 

Some ministers, to their credit, lent their support, but not without trying hard to make it about them rather than own up to the actual problem; more and more people are slipping through the cracks. 

The Perikatan Nasional government has so far, unveiled eight aid packages under various names – Pemulih, Penjana, Pemerkasa, Prihatin and so on. The total combined value of those packages is some RM530 billion, RM80 billion of which is in fiscal direct spending. That works out roughly to RM 16,000 per Malaysian, or RM2,400 in direct aid.

An average family of four should get RM9,600 in direct aid, and RM64,000 indirectly. If 80% of the allocation targets the bottom 40, that amount would be doubled.

The fact that Malaysian businesses are still going bust, people are still losing their jobs, and 468 suicides have occurred till May, should not have happened, let alone an entire country desperate enough to resort to raising a white flag campaign.

The louder the calls of “Kita Jaga Kita”, the more it implies, “Kerajaan Tak Jaga Kita”. 

With many government departments working at reduced capacity or totally closed, workers to identify, allocate, strategise and disburse aid should not come short. These civil employees are paid a full salary, and can be reassigned to help government departments related to welfare. 

Certain government departments, such as the police, interface more with citizens, and would be better acquainted with the realities on the ground, and able to point aid in the right direction.

Some are already taking the lead beyond the call of duty, like incoming Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal, who paved the way in Petaling Jaya with his colour-blind, help-all attitude, helping to mellow the usually harsh police image, and strengthen ties between cops and the community they serve. 

Related to the same feeling of desperation faced by a restless public, is the growing belief that the government is inept and incapable of steering the country out of the pandemic.

Social media campaigns like “Kerajaan Gagal” quickly escalated into stronger language, and triggered a “black flag” campaign, to enable participants to vent their dissatisfaction with the government without the need of street demos, by placing flags in their houses. 

There is nothing overtly sinister about this benign democratic expression, and resources expended in the investigations demanded by some quarters could surely be better used elsewhere. 

The people are merely looking for a means to vent their frustrations and convey their SOS. 

Neither the white nor black flag movements deserve the flak they are receiving from some political leaders, and anything other than offers of understanding and sympathy given the prevailing national circumstances and accompanying sentiment, should be considered acceptable. 

The government must learn to handle flags – white, red or otherwise – or risk raising red flags of their own. – July 7, 2021.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.