Zahid Hamidi Wants to do This to Rela. Good Idea?

The Home Ministry will submit a proposal to the Cabinet to place the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) under a separate department to strengthen its role, said its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“The proposal, which will be tabled in two weeks’ time, will enable Rela to function more effectively as a voluntary organisation in assisting the police and other security agencies in maintaining public order.

malaysiakini.com

Ahmad Zahid said this would open up opportunities for promotion and encourage greater participation from partially active and inactive Rela members, particularly graduates.

malaysiakini.com

He said the department would be set up without any additional allocation and positions.

bernama.com.my

Ahmad Zahid said the ministry would appoint Barisan Nasional (BN) members of Parliament as honorary Rela members and they were required to disburse RM20,000 of their parliamentary allocation to buy new uniforms for Rela members in their constituency.

"Rela will be given suitable supplies and equipment in line with its duties while its uniforms will be changed to digital camouflage fatigues," he told reporters after breaking fast with Rela members here today.

"Rela has been asked to classify its members into three categories, namely active, semi-active and inactive members - to enable additional training to be given to partially active and inactive members," he said.

bernama.com.my

Beliau berkata, kabinet juga memutuskan status pangkat Rela akan dibezakan dengan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM). "Nama pangkat itu akan diumumkan kelak dan digazet," katanya.

themalaysianinsider.com

Rela has a bad reputation, having drawn flak from foreign attention for its human rights abuses of nabbing aliens without valid entry permits for a bounty of RM80 per head captured.

In 2007, Human Rights Watch said Malaysian government should immediately take steps to dissolve Rela who is responsible for numerous cases of illegal detentions, unlawful use of force, and extortion.

hrw.org

“The government has set up what’s little more than a vigilante force to target foreigners,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Given RELA’s repeated abuses, it should be disbanded right away.”

hrw.org

Fully uniformed, armed, and unaccompanied, they break into migrant lodgings in the middle of the night without warrants, brutalize inhabitants, extort money, and confiscate goods, before handcuffing migrants and transporting them to detention camps for “illegal immigrants.”

hrw.org

Rela is also a strain on the home ministry budget as it would cost millions to maintain such a big and superfluous outfit.

Their main duty is to check the traveling documents and immigration permits of foreigners in Malaysian cities, including tourists, visitors and migrants to reduce the increasing rate of illegal immigrants in Malaysia.

wikipedia.org

They are also fully authorized to conduct the interrogation and even detaining people who forgot to bring their traveling documents, like passports and/or working permits.

wikipedia.org

During times of war, they are absorbed into the Malaysian Army as support groups despite their law enforcing duties. They are also tasked to do SAR works if needed.

wikipedia.org

Pasukan Sukarelawan Malaysia (RELA) was established on 11 RELA's establishment enable the masses to volunteer and be a member of a volunteer force to preserve and maintain the national peace and security.

moha.gov.my

Functions and duties of RELA:
'Eyes and ears' of the government in terms of security, socio-economic development, and so on. As an ambassador of the government in the dissemination and implementation of government policies.

rela.gov.my

VISION: To become a superior team of volunteers. MISION: Provide a volunteer team as a contributor to the local people's prosperity and security.

rela.gov.my

OBJECTIVE: Preserve and maintain the prosperity of the people and local peace and security effectively.

rela.gov.my