During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and the various lockdowns, the majority of the rakyat were left without assistance and without any means to make a living to survive.
This led to the creation of the White Flag initiative or #KempenBenderaPutih which provided those in need with an avenue to call out for help for food or other basic necessities.
However, the majority of Malaysians are perhaps unaware of the hero behind the initiative.
Back last year, Astro Awani interviewed the founder of the initiative who was revealed to be Kelantanese Nik Faizah Nik Othman who is a community activist and was also Deputy Head of AMANAH Women (AWAN) Kelantan.
Origins of White Flag initiative
It was all started by a Facebook post by Nik Faizah on June 28, 2021 where she urged those who are in trouble and cut off from food supplies to raise a white flag in front of their house.
“I advise everyone who is in trouble, and have no food, raise a white flag out of your house. Let the people around you help, give as much as you can. Do not take actions that harm yourself and your family,” she wrote in her post.
“Avoid stress, share problems with people. No need to plead. No need to be shy. Just fly the white cloth. Hope someone comes to help.”
In the interview, Nik Faizah said, “I just want to convey the message around me. I didn’t think it would go viral.”
When interviewed about what inspired her to start the White Flag campaign, Nik Faizah or more popularly known as Kak Jah, felt helpless when she saw that there was a rise in people suffering from depression, suicide, husbands locking up their wives and children which she believed required drastic action.
“I am sure there are many depressed people who do not share their problems, who are stuck. The easy way is to send a message to enable immediate help to be sent to them.” she explained.
She said that she chose the White Flag to represent the campaign as there are items in houses such as diapers, children’s school clothes and so on to use as the signal for help.
“So we can use whatever is in front of our eyes to be used as a tool to ask for help. I think that this white cloth is easy to find at home.”
Running as a candidate in GE15
Kak Jah had previously ran in GE14 under PH but did not manage to get the votes to become an MP. She has recently been announced as the PH candidate for Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan for GE15.
Thank you to Kak Jah for initiating a nation wide movement that probably helped thousands of Malaysians to get the help they needed.
Also read: #KempenBenderaPutih: We Want To Help Those Who Need It & So Can You! Here’s How
