Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department

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]

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)Saifuddin Nasution
Director-GeneralYahya bin Sulaiman

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.

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
Member of Malaysia Volunteers Corps.

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 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
Officers in Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak on Borneo.

Strength

Personnel

Overall3,064,456[6]
PlatoonsTBA
Male1,825,421
Female1,239,035

Ranks
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
The People's Volunteer Corps
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
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

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
  1. "My RELA". My Rela. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  2. Ministry of Internal Affairs (2022). "Fungsi dan tugas RELA".
  3. Jumain, Mohammad Fairuz (18 March 2020). "Rela, PDRM diberi kuasa laksana Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan".
  4. 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.
  5. Garcés-Mascareñas, Blanca (1 January 2012). Labour Migration in Malaysia and Spain: Markets, Citizenship and Rights. Amsterdam University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9789089642868.
  6. MyRela Volunteer strength Nov 2017, accessed 13 Nov 2017
  7. "Malaysia: Disband Abusive Volunteer Corps". Human Rights Watch. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/269/hdr_2009_en_complete.pdf

Further reading
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