RELA Corps
Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department | |
---|---|
Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia | |
Country | Malaysia |
Allegiance | Malaysia |
Branch | Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysia) |
Type | Paramilitary Militia |
Role | Military reserve Auxiliary police Security police Border control |
Size | 3,064,456 |
Motto(s) | To serve faithfully |
March | Gema RELA |
Engagements | Malaysian Emergency as the Home Guard |
Commanders | |
Minister of Home Affairs (Malaysia) | Saifuddin Nasution |
Director-General | Yahya bin Sulaiman |
The People's Volunteer Corps (Malay: Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia), abbreviated RELA, officially the Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department, is a paramilitary civil volunteer corps[1] formed by the Malaysian government. Their roles include: helping to spread awareness of government policies to the public; assisting other government agencies in carrying out duties; conducting local social and socio-economic activities; and developing human capital through trainings that are appropriate.[2]
RELA has the authority to raid suspected streets or places, such as factories, restaurants or hotels, and may interrogate or detain people who do not have travel documents, such as passports or work permits, on their person. They are also in charge of security, are absorbed into the Malaysian Army as support groups during times of war, and are tasked with search and rescue work if needed.[citation needed]
On 17 March 2020, the Malaysian Government announced that RELA would assist the Royal Malaysian Police and Malaysian Armed Forces to enforce the Movement Control Order until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
History
The People's Volunteer Corps is closely related to the Home Guard that was established when the Malayan Emergency was declared in 1948, and was dissolved when the Emergency ended on 31 July 1960. Its original purpose was to oppose communist fighters,[4] and now acts against illegal immigrants. There are 2.8 million people in the corps, most of whom are untrained volunteers.[4] In 2008, RELA was given charge of immigration detention centres.[5]
Personnel
Strength
Personnel
Overall | 3,064,456[6] |
Platoons | TBA |
Male | 1,825,421 |
Female | 1,239,035 |
Ranks
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The People's Volunteer Corps |
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Chief Commissioner Ketua Pesuruhjaya |
Deputy Chief Commissioner Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya |
Commissioner Pesuruhjaya |
Deputy Commissioner Timbalan Pesuruhjaya |
Senior Assistant Commissioner Penolang Pesuruhjaya Kanan |
Assistant Commissioner Penolang Pesuruhjaya |
Superintendent Penguasa |
Senior Deputy Superintendent Timbalan Penguasa Kanan |
Deputy Superintendent Timbalan Penguasa Kanan |
Senior Assistant Superintendent Penolang Penguasa Kanan |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The People's Volunteer Corps |
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Assistant Superintendent I Penolang Penguasa I |
Assistant Superintendent II Penolang Penguasa II |
Superior Officer I Pegawal tinggi I |
Superior Officer II Pegawal tinggi II |
Senior Officer I Pegawal Kanan I |
Senior Officer II Pegawal Kanan II |
Firearms & Equipments
Still in service
Former firearms
Equipment
•Walkie-talkie model Motorola,Kenwood Corporation and Baofeng UV-5R
Criticism
The Human Rights Watch has called for People's Volunteer Corps to be dissolved, accusing it of violating human rights, conducting illegal raids and extortions.[7]
According to the United Nations Human Development Report of 2009, "Migrant activists say that RELA volunteers have become vigilantes, planting evidence to justify arrests of migrants and using excessive force in their policing. The government has recently announced its intention to curb abuses and is currently looking into ways of improving RELA by providing training to its members."[8]
References
- ^ "My RELA". My Rela. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ Ministry of Internal Affairs (2022). "Fungsi dan tugas RELA".
- ^ Jumain, Mohammad Fairuz (18 March 2020). "Rela, PDRM diberi kuasa laksana Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan".
- ^ a b Mydans, Seth (10 December 2007). "A Growing Source of Fear for Migrants in Malaysia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ Garcés-Mascareñas, Blanca (1 January 2012). Labour Migration in Malaysia and Spain: Markets, Citizenship and Rights. Amsterdam University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9789089642868.
- ^ MyRela Volunteer strength Nov 2017, accessed 13 Nov 2017
- ^ "Malaysia: Disband Abusive Volunteer Corps". Human Rights Watch. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/269/hdr_2009_en_complete.pdf [bare URL PDF]
Further reading
- Kent, Jonathan (3 January 2007). "Incidents may mar Malaysia's tourism bid". BBC News.