Rela targets 2.6 million members

http://tribune.my/prime/1308-rela-targets-26-million-members.html

Rela targets 2.6 million members

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 11:51

TUARAN (Sabah): Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela) or Malaysian Voluntary Corp targets to recruit 2.6 million members by year-end.

This was announced by the secretary- general to the Ministry of Home Affairs Dato’ Sri Mahmood Adam during the handing-over of honorary rank to several individuals at the Rela training centre here over the weekend.

“The targeted figure is double the existing membership of 1.3 million. This is to realize the vision of turning Rela into a third security institution in the country after the army and police.

Once this target had been achieved Rela would embark on spreading its wings into the Association of South East Asian (Asean) countries particularly Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, he added.

He made the address when presenting honorary ranks to 34 high ranking officers of the Home Affairs Ministry, selected members of the public and personnel from the media fraternity.

Heading the list of the recipients was Home Ministry’s deputy secretary-general Dato Raja Azahar bin Raja Abdul Manap who was given the Honorary Major-General.

Others who received the same rank were Dato’ Haji Mohd Nor Hashim, Dato’ Bakir Haji Zin and Dato’ Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi.

Four other s received the Honorary Brigadier-General; 18 Honorary Colonels; five Honorary Lieutenant Colonels; and three Honorary Major.

Seventeen media practitioners from Sabah, three from Sarawak and two from Peninsular Malaysia were also awarded the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel and Major.

The Sarawak trio are New Sarawak Tribune’s executive editor Paul Si Poh Lim (Lieutenant Colonel), See Hua Daily News regional news manager Chia Chew Boon (Lieutenant Colonel) and the Group Editor-in- Chief of New Sarawak Tribune and Utusan Sarawak William Chan (Major).

Meanwhile, Sarawak Rela director Brigadier-General Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan, who was also present at the function told the New Sarawak Tribune that Rela personnel in Sarawak were also tasked with guarding six Short Take-Off Landing Port (Stolport) airstrips in Bario, Ba’ Kelalan, Long Lellang, Long Akah, Long Seridan and Long Banga.

“Each Stolport station is provided with 12 to 14 personnel who works 24 hours in three shifts,” he said.

Rela Sarawak has 112,000 members spread throughout the state.

Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Pasang of Bario meanwhile, disclosed that the membership drive in the rural area had improved tremendously.

“We have 18 platoons in our area now, compared to only three in 2003. Each platoon comprises 33 personnel. Our members comprise people of various ethnics namely Kelabit, Penan, Saban and Kenyah,” he said.

Rela members in the rural areas helped look after the air-strips, monitor illegal immigrants, subsidy abuse and assisting in combating criminal activities.

Jeffrey suggested that the honorary high-ranking personnel be given allowances considering that they perform leadership activities to ensure the progress of Rela members.