KOTA KINABALU: State police will not act against anyone putting up white flags to seek food assistance, says Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali.

       However, he said that police would check on such people to ensure that they are not cheating and were genuine cases.

       "No, we are not acting against those putting up the flags. They need a helping hand," he said when asked if it was considered an offence for people to put up the white flags if they needed food assistance.

       However, he said that police were keeping a close watch on such cases and would investigate if they were elements of cheating among those putting up the white flags.

       "We don't want some people to take advantage to cheat," he explained.

       Recently, people reaching out to those needing help said that there was concern among those affected to put up white flags as they believed that it was illegal.