Merdeka IOW to carry out 3,060 programmes in 153 districts

Known as Merdeka IOW, the unit was flagged off by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the launch of 2020 National Month and Fly Jalur Gemilang campaign here today.

Japen deputy director-general (strategic communications) Datuk Mohd Sukari Ab Hamid said Merdeka IOW has started its activities since July 16 and to continue until Sept 16.

"IOW will go to places such as villages and residential areas to promote information on National Day and encourage the public to fly the Jalur Gemilang.

"We will also distribute pamphlets on the correct way of putting up the National flag," he told Bernama when met at the event.

Mohd Sukari said IOW was also conducting Merdeka@Komuniti programme in all 122 Parliamentary constituencies, involving 666 programmes, to boost patriotism within society.

"Besides that, we will insert other information such as on breaking the COVID-19 chain by explaining the standard operating procedure to the public," he said.

Merdeka IOW will also help other government agencies make public, such as on the Malaysian Population and Housing Census 2020.

It would also promote the Merdeka Moments programme which encourage Malaysians to upload photos or videos on hoisting the Jalur Gemilang on the social media, by tagging #merdekamoments #MalaysiaPrihatin and #KibarJalurGemilang.

For the record, IOW has been mobilised since Jan 23 and intensified during Movement Control Order (MCO) to spread information on COVID-19 and MCO.

As of July 26, IOW had conducted a total of 12,785 programmes comprising 53,691 locations nationwide.