ALOR GAJAH: "I am an old man who can survive on just eating tapioca leaves growing by the roadsides. But, looking at my three children's faces, I have to do something," said 54-year-old single father Yaakob Montel who put up one of his children's old white school shirt in front of their house.
The self-employed lorry driver said he had to put aside his pride and raise the "white flag" to seek help in getting basic neccessities especially food for his children aged between nine and 17 years old.
Following the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0 early of June, he could no longer get any job and is running out of food supply.
"I thought that the MCO 3.0 will only last until Monday (June 28), which would allow me to go out and earn money to feed my children. When the lockdown was extended, I was at a lost.
"The first and second week of not working, I could still cover the household expenses with the little savings I had. But, on the third week onwards we were running low on food and only had our rice with eggs and soy sauce aside from eating instant noodles," he said when met at his home in Taman Kebaya here.
On his decision to raise the white flag, Yaakob said he read about the #benderaputih movement on Facebook calling those who needed help to raise a white flag.
"I barely could sleep on Monday night thinking about my family as we only had less than 10 eggs to survive on before I read about raising a white flag on Facebook. My initial intention (checking social media) was to find out what aid was available for those affected (by the MCO).
"Mind you, it is not easy for me to do this, but I have to swallow my pride for my children's sake. I took an old school uniform and put it up outside the gate the next day," said the single father.
Yaakob also stressed that his decision to raise the white flag was not to take advantage of people's kindness, but to feed his children.
"I hope no one will get the wrong idea about my action. I am really grateful to those who have come forward to help my family," he said.