M'sian spirit: Growing lists of initiatives pop up to aid others amid partial shutdown
CORONAVIRUS | With mounting criticisms over what appears to be a lack of government coordination in the enforcement of the movement control order, a local author has turned to efforts by ordinary citizens that target communities in need of help.
Taking to Twitter, award-winning novelist Hanna Alkaf (above) noted there must be others who shared her sense of helplessness when faced with various uncertainties amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
"Malaysians, for those who will be feeling the brunt of the next two weeks, what are some things we can do?...
CORONAVIRUS | With mounting criticism over what appears to be a lack of government coordination in the enforcement of the movement control order, many ordinary citizens moved to mobilise efforts that target communities in need of help.
The growing list of available assistance ranges from initiatives to feed the homeless community, grocery delivery service for the elderly and disabled, as well as support for frontliners tirelessly serving in the hospitals.
Taking to Twitter, award-winning novelist Hanna Alkaf noted there must be others who shared her sense of helplessness when faced with various uncertainties amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
"Malaysians, for those who will be feeling the brunt of the next two weeks, what are some things we can do?
"Places we can donate to, community initiatives we can signal boost?" said Hanna using the hashtag #kitajagakita (we take care of each other) which is currently trending on Twitter.
Some of the efforts were mobilised by established groups such as Mercy Malaysia that set-up a Covid-19 relief fund, as well as Pertiwi Soup Kitchen whose volunteers include trained health practitioners.
Others meanwhile increased their ongoing projects for vulnerable communities including refugees, refugee children, and families living in Chow Kit.
For the doctors and nurses working round the clock, several supporting efforts are ongoing, including fundraising by a staff union to purchase face masks and essential goods.
Similarly, local fashion brand Fashion Valet in cooperation with Imam Response and Relief Team are raising funds to mobilise volunteers to assist at health facilities; assist hospitalised/quarantined friends and frontliners; as well as provide medical and general supplies to hospitals nationwide.
Noting that the government order could impose stress on an individual's mental health, support group Befrienders Kuala Lumpur will continue to operate its suicide prevention helpline, while women's groups Women's Aid Organisation and Women's Centre for Change Penang will continue their hotlines to receive cases of domestic abuse.
With the urgent call for social distancing and people to remain at home, many Malaysians also took to crowdsourcing information online, including to consolidate early childhood educational resources for parents with young children stuck at home.
For individuals keen to offer their assistance, two groups - Caremongering Malaysia and Zero Waste Malaysia - have developed a community map that connects them with people in need in their neighbourhood through filling up an online form.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday announced that the order will be enforced from today until March 31.
The order is intended to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections which spiked with a three-digit increase in three consecutive days.
A lack of coordination and perceived poor communication from authorities in charge, however, sparked a surge of frenzied shopping and an exodus out of Kuala Lumpur.
Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.
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