Here are community initiatives you can help in the fight against Covid-19

LETTER | The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) calls on all to come together as a nation and support each other in this uphill task fighting off the Covid-19 outbreak, which has infected 1,030 persons and claimed three lives since January.

The fight against Covid-19 cannot be dependent solely on the government. 

The government’s effort will not be effective without the support and cooperation of the people nationwide.

We the people must play our part, in fact, a big part, to contain the outbreak, reduce confirmed cases and end it eventually.

As in any democratic society with a vibrant civil society, many civil society organisations have started to take important action to fight the outbreak in different ways.

Bersih would like to highlight some of the initiatives of civil society organisations as below and call on the public to support them financially or in kind or as volunteers:

1. #MakanKongsi – Food vouchers for the vulnerable, a joint effort by Bersih, Engage with Friends & Strangers.

The initiative aims to provide two meals daily for free from March 23 till April 5 to 120 identified individuals who are vulnerable and at risk around Johor Bahru due to the movement control order (MCO).

Many of these are either homeless or earn daily wages and do not have work or income for the next two weeks till March 31.

The organisers of this project have raised about three times of the fund that is needed and have stopped receiving donations. We urge such initiatives to be replicated elsewhere to assist more vulnerable communities.

2. #FrontlinersFirst by Projek Wawasan Rakyat (Powr) and KiddoCare (www.kiddocare.my) in the Klang Valley.

The project aims to support our hardworking Ministry of Health (MOH) staff with urgent childcare requirements during the MCO and keep their families in safe hands.

Powr aims to fundraise in order to support at least 75 percent of the childcare costs. If we can raise more funds, we hope to offer even larger subsidies. Donations can be made to: 14023010011219, Bank Islam, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim).

3. Dapur Jalanan Kuala Lumpur and Liga Demokratik Rakyat

Appeal for donation in the form of money or materials such as mineral water, face mask, gloves and hand sanitiser by soup kitchen Dapur Jalanan Kuala Lumpur and Liga Rakyat Demokratik.

The project aims to distribute these essential materials on a regular basis to those who are poor, homeless, and marginalised without the means to secure such essential materials to prevent infection of Covid-19.

For those who wish to contribute or need such materials, please contact +6013-493 5719 (Arifin Amin).

4. #kitajagakita Covid-19 Assistance

This platform links kind-hearted individuals with verified listings of organisations and community groups working to assist those badly affected by the MCO to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Groups involved in this platform include Hospital Cleaner‘s Union, Mercy Malaysia, The Lost Food Project, Pit Stop Community Cafe, et cetera. Whether you are seeking assistance or seeking to help others, this platform helps to connect you to organisations that offer cash and food donations, volunteer services and support.

For more information, please visit www.kitajaga.us

These are just some of the initiatives of civil society and the list is certainly not exhaustive.

We believe more such initiatives are needed in many areas nationwide if we as a nation are to win this battle against the outbreak.

Bersih calls for more public support for these initiatives so that we will get through this and we will get through this together.

BERSIH 2.0 is a coalition of groups working towards clean and fair elections.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.