The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) and our partner ENGAGE, are pleased to announce that as of today, we have raised RM313,613, surpassing our target of RM300,000 when we started the campaign for #MakanKongsi on 20th March 2020. We are extremely grateful to the 1,091 donors who gave so generously despite their own concerns and challenges during this Movement Control Order (MCO) to lend a helping hand to others who are at risk of starvation.

#MakanKongsi began with a very clear focus to ensure that the most vulnerable communities in our country are able to get two meals a day during the MCO period and the donations received have benefited over 4,256 people from these communities so far. Through our 22 NGO partners and individuals who works among the urban poor, Orang Asli/Asal, migrant workers, refugees, single mothers, OKU and others, we have provided food vouchers, cash aid and essential provisions to the most at-risk individuals, families and villages.

It is very obvious to us as we process requests from our partners and new applications daily, the needs are staggering and we are only able to touch a very small percentage of people who are struggling to stave off starvation. It is also clear to us that their problem won’t end with the end of the MCO on the 14th April. Many of these same communities would still be at risk as many of them are daily wage earners who depend on small-medium enterprises (SMEs) for work. Many SMEs themselves are at risk of closure from the one-month lockdown of their businesses.  Should the MCO be further extended, then we are facing a massive humanitarian crisis that this country has never faced since its formation.

A bright spot from this gloomy crisis is the manifestation of the spirit of selflessness and self-reliance of many Malaysians who immediately went into action to provide support for the frontliners of the health service and to look out for the communities at risk. #MakanKongsi is privileged to come to know and work with some of these truly amazing individuals. They embody the spirit of #KitaJagaKita and #NoOneLeftBehind and they are found in every corner of the country and in every community.  #MakanKongsi exists to support their efforts by providing small grants to these local unsung heroes.

Bersih 2.0 and ENGAGE calls on Malaysians to support all efforts by such NGOs and individuals by donating generously and even sacrificially to look after every person affected by the MCO regardless of ethnicity, creed and nationality. 

On our part, we will continue to receive donations despite achieving our initial target of RM300,000 as most of our funds have been disbursed and in the event the MCO is extended further as there are still so many needs out there. We will continue to consider applications from NGOs for support as long as we have the funds available. It is our pledge that every ringgit donated will be converted to meals for the neediest among us.

Once again, thank you to all who donated to #MakanKongsi, you have made a huge difference in the thousand of lives we were able to reach. We are indeed #StrongerTogether.

Statement issued by:

The Steering Committee of Bersih 2.0

Executive Committee of ENGAGE