Go to the ground to seek out the needy - Zulkifli

He said although various opinions have been raised on the way to cry out for help, including from muftis, most of the views were aimed at helping those affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

"What is important is that we go to the ground, regardless of a white flag or not, we help people in hardship," he told reporters after handing over aid to an underprivileged group in conjunction of the Inspirasi Prihatin programme of Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM) here today.

Zulkifli said this when asked to comment on opinions by certain parties regarding the action of flying the white flag as a call for help.

Meanwhile, he said members of the public can apply for assistance by calling the numbers provided at the website or Facebook page of agencies under his ministry including Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) and YaPEIM.

He said to date over RM700 million worth of assistance had been distributed nationwide through collaboration of various agencies including zakat (tithe) collection centres and state Islamic Religious Departments as well as YADIM.

Meanwhile, regarding Aidiladha sacrificial rites (korban) standard operating procedure (SOP), he said the matter is subjected to the respective state Islamic Religious Departments.

He said prior to this, the National Special Muzakarah Committee for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), had decided that korban is allowed, but must be done in compliance to the stipulated SOP by National Security Council besides the state Mufti's advice.