Do you know whose idea was it that gave birth to the Bendera Putih initiative?

I don’t. And that is sad. But whoever the brains are behind the initiative, I salute you. It is a noble idea for an equally noble cause.

We know already #benderaputih is trending, meaning the Bendera Putih or white flag initiative has gained traction, already getting mass support from individuals, groups, businesses and politicians, particularly from the opposition, and still getting support.

Malaysians are suffering and the Bendera Putih movement is a call for Malaysians in need of food or essentials to carry out a simple act, that is to raise a white flag outside their homes as a sign to indicate they need help so that neighbors and others can give the necessary aid.

We know by now the message is straightforward: “To those who are struggling and have no food, raise the white flag at you home. Let the people around you help as much as they can. Please do not take actions that will break the hearts of your loved ones. No need to plead. No need to beg. No need to feel embarrassed. Just fly the flag.”

The initiative surfaced amid reports of Malaysians being pushed to the brim or to breaking points by the indefinite closure of the economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are driven to suicide.

Up went the white flags, and with it came the help as Malaysians regardless of race and religion responded overwhelmingly.

The Bendera Putih movement is all about Malaysians getting Malaysians to help Malaysians.

Therefore, no one should view it suspiciously, or feel uneasy, what more feel threatened, not even the government.

Come to think of it, federal minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin took to her social media platform to proclaim that she is “with the Bendera Putih movement to identify the needy”. And she echoed the movement message of “no need to plead. No need to be embarrassed. Just fly the flag”.

I was told she had located some needy folks thanks to the white flags, and provided aid.

Activists, including the well-known Fahmi Reza, are accusing the minister of “hijacking” the initiative created by the rakyat.

Agree or not, that’s their take on the matter which must be respected.

As it stands, Zuraida at least on record “is with” the initiative, rendering support. Which makes Nik Abduh Nik Aziz’s take on the Bendera Putih movement baffling. All the more baffling as Nik Abduh is a leader of PAS, a party which is in a government which Zuraida is part of.

The PAS politician who fashioned himself as an ulama or Islamic scholar is perceived to have looked down or mocked the Bendera Putih movement.

He urged people to pray to God to help overcome their hardships and challenges instead of raising a while flag.

“Raise your hands in prayer to Him. That is the flag of strength and optimism. Don’t admit defeat when tested.”

Obviously, to him the white flag is a sign of surrender. True as in other instances. In war for example. But not this time. People are fighting a different kind of war!

To activist Iswardy Morni, the white flag is a symbol of the rakyat not “surrendering” in the usual sense but more of given up hope of getting help during these trying times, thus the need to take care among themselves.

Nik Abduh, on his part, wants people to ask God for help and not raise the white flag. And he was lambasted for that by Malaysians, including Muslims who told him Allah wants people to work hard and try to help themselves instead of merely praying for help.

Some reminded Nik Abduh on the “tin Milo” (empty Milo cans) used to collect money from people at PAS ceramahs, asking him “why didn’t PAS just pray for money to drop from the sky?”

There are a lot more said by the average Malaysians. And Nik Abduh continues to be slammed.

Nik Abduh is a member of PAS central committee. I wonder if the PAS leadership shares his views on the Bendera Putih movement.

As said earlier, Bendera Putih is a people’s initiative. An attack on it is seen as an attack on the people. Belittle it is to belittle the people.

That is what Nik Abduh has done!

No politician worth his salt would want to incur the wrath of the people. Which is what Nik Abduh has effortlessly “earned”.

Thus far PAS leaders are keeping mum. It looks like the party or its top leaders seem to be distancing from Nik Abduh on the issue.

Is he being isolated? Is he alone on the white flag matter? I do not know.

But I do know that PAS leaders as well as the party itself have been implicated because of what Nik Abduh has said.

Take a look at what political analyst Azmi Hassan has to say.

He was quoted by FMT as saying PAS leaders “should have the common decency” to say the right things about a campaign meant to help people in distress.

Azmi and fellow analyst Awang Azman Pawi questioned the quality of leadership in PAS, particularly in its role as a member of Perikatan Nasional administration.

According to Azmi, it looks like PAS does not even have the “basic knowledge” to run the country.

He went on to say that many people were skeptical of PAS’ abilities when it became part of the government and the skeptics “had been proven right”.

As he sees it, PAS leaders “have been making too many blunders”. 

All what Azmi has said, I would say will haunt PAS and for that Perikatan Nasional itself for a very long time as the pandemic continues to rage on.

Meanwhile, the white flags are still being raised.

(Mohsin Abdullah is a veteran journalist and now a freelancer who writes about this, that and everything else.)