PETALING JAYA: The RM300,000 allocated for the food basket initiative under the recently announced National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (Pemulih) has been distributed to lawmakers starting Thursday (July 1).

       The Prime Minister's Office said the move was to boost the initiative and to ensure it was more effective towards the target groups.

       "This allocation has been distributed to all parliamentarians starting Thursday (July 1)," it said in a statement.

       It added that for the Gerik and Batu Sapi constituencies, the allocation will be distributed via the Hulu Perak Land and District Office and Majlis Perbandaran Sandakan (Sandakan City Council) respectively.

       On Monday (June 28), Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the government would expand an existing food basket initiative by allocating a total of RM300,000 for each lawmaker, including from the Opposition.

       "In terms of extending help to the rakyat, I will take the attitude of not considering any political affiliations.

       "Be it government or opposition MPs, everyone must shoulder the responsibility to help the people at a time when many are in need,” said Muhyiddin.

       "Use this allocation wisely to help needy people in every constituency," he added when unveiling the Pemulih aid package on Monday.

       Recently, the #benderaputih (white flag) movement, which has been making its rounds on social media, aims to help those in dire need of food and essentials.

       The initiative has been getting traction from the public on social media, with many Malaysians supporting and pledging to help as much as they can for those in need.