Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department
Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia
Country Malaysia
Allegiance Malaysia
BranchMinistry of Home Affairs (Malaysia)
TypeParamilitary
Militia
RoleMilitary reserve
Auxiliary police
Security police
Border control
Size3,064,456
Motto(s)To serve faithfully
MarchGema RELA
EngagementsMalaysian Emergency as the Home Guard
Commanders
Minister of Home Affairs (Malaysia)Hamzah Zainudin
Director-GeneralZaidon Asmuni

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 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. RELA has the authority to deal with situations like policemen, such as raiding suspected streets or places such as factories, restaurants and even hotels. They are also fully authorised to conduct the interrogation and even detaining people who forgot to bring their traveling documents, like passports and/or working permits. Besides that they are also tasked with security works at times. 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.

On 17 March 2020, Malaysian Government has announced the RELA Corps will assist the Royal Malaysian Police and Malaysian Armed Forces to enforce the until the end of COVID-19 pandemic.

Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

History[]

The People's Volunteer Corps is closely related to the Home Guard that was established in order to safe guard the local from communists when emergency declared in 1948 and was dissolved after emergency ended on 31 July 1960. Its purpose was to guard against communists.[2] It now serves as a strike force against illegal immigrants. It is 2.8 million strong and is composed of mostly untrained volunteers.[2] In 2008 Rela was given charge of immigration detention centres.[3]

Mission and objective[]

  • Vision

To prepare, train, and maintain a volunteer force as the Nation's line of defence and to guard the welfare of the citizens of Malaysia.

  • Mission

To deploy and mobilise the volunteer force to reduce Illegal Immigration and to assist other enforcement agencies to maintain peace and security throughout Malaysia.

  • Objective

Help preserve national security, peace and welfare of the Malaysian citizens and to reduce Illegal Immigrantion

Roles and priorities[]

During a war or emergency:

  • To maintain and preserve public order and security of local area before being handed over to the Armed Forces.
  • To lead and protect the citizens to a safer area.
  • War combatants and psyops
  • As "eyes" and "ears" of the military and the government
  • Help the armed forces to operate patrols, intelligence, security force, and to provide direct defence on all strategic interest in their area.

Personnel[]

Strength[]

Personnel

Overall 3,064,456[4]
Platoons ?
Male 1,825,421
Female 1,239,035

Ranks[]

Rank group General/flag officers Field/senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
The People's Volunteer Corps
  • v
  • t
 RELA OF9.png RELA OF8.png RELA OF7.png RELA OF6.png RELA OF5.png RELA OF4.png RELA OF3.png RELA OF2.png RELA OF1B.png RELA OF1A.png
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
The People's Volunteer Corps
  • v
  • t
 RELA OR9.png RELA OR8.png RELA OR7.png RELA OR6.png RELA OR4.png RELA OR3.png
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

Criticism[]

Human Rights Watch has called for People's Volunteer Corps to be dissolved. They have accused it of violating human rights, conducting illegal raids and extortions.[5]

According to the United Nations Human Development Report 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."[6]

Firearms[]

Handguns
Shotguns
Assault Rifles
Battle Rifles
  • L1A1 SLR (from 1960s to mid 1980s)
Personal
  • T-baton

Vehicle[]

Popular culture[]

  • In the 1981 film comedy politics Aku Yang Berhormat which two friends serve with RELA
  • In the 2007 film Horror Comedy Zombi Kampung Pisang a village in Kuala Kangsar attack by Zombie
  • In the 2012 film comedy Senario Ops Pocot a life three person who join RELA and fight human trafficking

References[]

  1. ^ "My RELA". My Rela. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Garcés-Mascareñas, Blanca (1 January 2012). Labour Migration in Malaysia and Spain: Markets, Citizenship and Rights. Amsterdam University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9789089642868.
  4. ^ MyRela Volunteer strength Nov 2017, accessed 13 Nov 2017
  5. ^ "Malaysia: Disband Abusive Volunteer Corps". Human Rights Watch. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  6. ^ http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/269/hdr_2009_en_complete.pdf[bare URL PDF]

Further reading[]

External links[]

Retrieved from ""