KUCHING: Members of the Malaysian Volunteer Corps (Rela) are making a name for themselves as dependable guards for hire.
State Rela director Rini Tupong said because of this more government departments and agencies are hiring them to guard premises and installations.
He said to date 19 government departments and agencies are hiring a total of 247 Rela personnel as guards at their respective premises.
Among them are the National Registration Department office, Wisma Perkeso, Menara Tinjau in Tudan Miri, Kemas Office, Kampus INFRA KKLW, Kompleks Penyelidikan Tanah Gambut Tropika, Mukah and Daro Hospital, Loba Kara Forest Department in Daro, federal secretary office, Loji Rawatan Kumbuhan Berpusat Kuching, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissaion, Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK), Anjung Singgah, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Kompleks Mahkamah Bumiputera dan Adat Istiadat Bumiputera, Taman Perumahan/Perumahan VVIP and the State Rela office.
Rela also provides security services at several small airports, known as short take-off and land port (Stolport). The 42 personnel involved are paid by Malaysia Airport Sdn Bhd. These airports include Long Seridan, Bario, Ba’kelalan and Long Lelang.
Rini told this to reporters during a breaking of fast attended by Rela deputy director general Roslan Mat Nong, Rela officers, staff members and officers of several state and federal departments and agencies at Rela Sarawak headquarters here yesterday evening.
“Rela also provide 72 personnel for community patrolling services (RKK) at 12 villages in seven districts which are close to our state border with Brunei and Indonesia,” said Rini, adding their allowances are paid by Rela.
Rela would also resume guard duties at all immigration, customs, quarantine and security complexes around the state by July this year.
On the current standard allowance for Rela personnel, Rini explained that it is RM6 per hour for normal personnel and RM7.80 per hour for the chief platoon leader.
He said they are required to work a minimum of eight hours and maximum of 12 hours, with approval.
He added that members must first get the approval of the state Rela head office through recommendation by Rela’s district offices. The procedures also apply to those members who provide security services at village functions, for example, at wedding receptions.
He said the allowance rates are also the same – RM6 per hour for normal personnel and RM7.80 per hour for its officers.
Rini stressed that the allowances are not what matter the most but the services that Rela rendered to the community.
About cases of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving making false claims among Rela members, Rini said they are pending in court and are isolated cases.
“We have stringent procedures to adhere to when making claims and so it is not easy for staff and Rela members to cheat,” he said.
At yesterday’s event seven widows of Rela personnel who died during in service received cheques under their group’s insurance claims, while two Rela members received their cheques for their medical claims from Roslan.
Meanwhile, 18 Rela members received gifts under Khidmat Bakti Rela while 10 orphans from the Laila Taib Orphanage Complex also received their Raya gifts from Roslan at the function.
At th same function Roslan also presented a “tongkat” (walking stick) to a son of a Rela member, Adam Irfan Muizzuddin, 10, who fractured his leg in a road accident with his mother in Kota Samarahan recently.
