Pandemic preparedness is not just about emergency responses

The Bendera Putih movement exposed socioeconomic vulnerabilities within Malaysian society during the Covid-19 pandemic that went beyond the medical emergency. — Filepic

Many Malaysians will remember one of the defining images of the Covid-19 pandemic not from a hospital ward or a government briefing, but from outside ordinary homes: white flags hanging from windows and balconies.

The Bendera Putih (White Flag) movement emerged in 2021 as families facing hunger, unemployment, isolation or desperation quietly signalled for help.