KUALA LUMPUR – Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin received huge brickbats from social media users following her recent tweet on the public-initiated #benderaputih campaign this morning.
Netizens were irate at how the Ampang MP seemed to hijack the initiative, which encourages those in dire need of aid to raise a white flag at their homes to receive assistance from various parties.
“I am together with the #benderaputih campaign to identify those in need of assistance. There is no need to beg, no need to be ashamed. Just raise the white flag,” her Twitter account admin tweeted.
Admin | Saya bersama dalam kempen #benderaputih ini bagi mengenal pasti mereka yang memerlukan bantuan. Tak perlu merayu, tak perlu malu. Kibar saja bendera.?️#KempenBenderaPutih#PEMULIH#ActionBeyondPolitics pic.twitter.com/L3UP1rTYYf
— Zuraida Kamaruddin (@zuraida_my) June 29, 2021
In response, Twitter user @fatiniqaaa tweeted: “Weren’t you quiet all this while until the rakyat started to take their own initiative? Now you are so quick to take credit. This is shameful.”
Kahkah bukan main senyap sebelum ni sampai rakyat buat initiative sendiri. Eh tiba tiba laju pula nak ambil credit malu woiii ?☝?
— fatih ? (@fatiniqaaa) June 29, 2021
Recalling an incident last year involving Zuraida, @erhanazrai sarcastically tweeted: “I suggest that the money allocated to spray Clorox on the road pavements can be distributed to the poor, YB. Doing that is better for you and the outcome will be better.”
Duit sembur clorox kat pavement jalan raya tuh saya cadangkan kita beri kat orang miskin, YB.
— Erhan Azrai (@erhanazrai) June 29, 2021
Yang demikian adalah lebih baik bagi kamu dan lebih elok pula kesudahannya.
Similarly, @zamrimohamad did not mince words when he lambasted her saying: Puan YB, are you aware that this campaign emerged from the failure of politicians who were given the responsibility?”
Puan YB tahukan kempen ini datang daripada kegagalan orang politik yang diberi amanah?
— zamrimohamad (@zamrimohamad) June 29, 2021
Malaysian Twitter users have come out in support of the #benderaputih movement, following a tweet from user @HafizolHakami last night promoting the initiative.
Kepada semua yang susah dan tiada makanan, naikkan bendera putih ?️ di kediaman anda.
— Hafizol Hakami (@HafizolHakami) June 28, 2021
Biar orang sekeliling pakat bantu sedikit sebanyak yang termampu.
Tolong jangan ambil tindakan yang meremukkan hati orang yang tersayang.
Tak perlu merayu, tak perlu malu. Kibar saja bendera pic.twitter.com/BGy7muxcMc
In his tweet, he called on those in need of food or essentials to raise a white flag outside their homes. The raising of the white flag would imply that the household needs assistance, allowing neighbours to render necessary aid to them.
“Please do not take actions that will break the hearts of your loved ones. Avoid stress.
“No need to plead, no need to be embarrassed. Just fly the flag,” he tweeted.
At press time, his tweet had received nearly 16,000 retweets and 7,000 likes. – The Vibes, June 29, 2021
