The Sarawak branch of the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) is expected to have two training centres in the State, as the State Government has approved two pieces of land in Sematan, Lundu and Bekenu, Miri for their construction.
Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg said this in his remarks during the State-level 46th RELA anniversary celebration that was held at Stadium Perpaduan, Kuching on 10th March 2018.
He added that these centres will benefit the 357,663 RELA members in Sarawak, especially in support of their ongoing efforts in serving as a second line of defence in the State and Malaysia as a whole.
The State-level event saw the Chief Minister presenting the RELA Digital Operations Uniforms (POD) symbolically to RELA Sarawak Director TPjR Rini Tupong, which were acquired with the State Government’s funding to the volunteer corps at RM20 million.
He was also appointed Honorary Deputy Commissioner of RELA that was presented by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs II YB Dato’ Masir Kujat.
This year’s RELA anniversary celebration was attended by around 45,000 RELA members in three locations across Malaysia on the same day – the Chancellor Hall of Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Stadium Perpaduan in Kuching, Sarawak; and the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) in Selangor.
At the national-level event in MAEPS, Prime Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak announced an increase in allowances for RELA members and officers by RM2.00 – from RM6.00 to RM8.00 per hour and RM7.80 to RM9.80 per hour, respectively.
He noted that the allowance hike, as well as an additional RM20 million to this year’s RM100 million allocation for the purchase of RELA uniforms, is one of the Federal Government’s ways of appreciating the sacrifices and services of 3.05 million RELA members throughout the country.
