KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has chided certain quarters who questioned the Bendera Putih movement, saying the RM300,000 allocation for each parliamentarian is not enough to help everyone.
“Stop politicising the movement. Chest-thumping about the RM300,000 allocation only shows arrogance and conceit. The fact is the allocation is insufficient to meet the needs of all.”
He said the RM300,000 allocation for food baskets in each constituency can only help 6,000 people if each basket costs RM50 for 5kg of rice, sugar, Milo, cooking oil and so on.
“How is the allocation enough to sustain an entire constituency that has more than 100,000 people? For example, Pasir Puteh (Kelantan) alone has more than 100,000 people while Ampang has nearly 500,000.
“The Bendera Putih initiative, to some extent, gives hope to the desperate and stressed asking for help. At the same time, the movement helps those who want to extend assistance more effectively.”
The #benderaputih campaign that started recently to encourage poverty-stricken folk in need of urgent help during the pandemic and lockdown to make their appeal known by placing white flags outside their homes.
Meanwhile, Asyraf Wajdi trained his guns on International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, saying he must be numb for his continuous defence of keeping factories open.
“If he (Azmin) stubbornly insists on keeping factories open, then the lockdown and MCO have no meaning but for the people to continue suffering.
“Is it impossible to understand the feelings of the people who are suffering as a result of the half-baked MCO and lockdown approach?
“All data indicate the main cause of Covid-19 transmissions is factories. The people are bored and tired because they were forced to be confined and stay-in for six months.
“Covid-19 has claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people, not including the 600-plus suicides due to stress.” – The Vibes, July 3, 2021
