The People's Volunteer Corps

The People's Volunteer Corps (Malay: Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia), abbreviated RELA, officially the Volunteers Department of Malaysia, 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.

People’s Volunteer Corps
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

On 17 March 2020, Malaysian Government has announced the RELA Corps will assist the Royal Malaysian Police and Malaysian Armed Forces to enforce the Movement Control Order 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 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

Overall3,064,456[4]
Platoons?
Male1,825,421
Female1,239,035

Ranks
Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
The People's Volunteer Corps
 No equivalent No equivalent
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
Equivalent
NATO code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
The People's Volunteer Corps
 No equivalent No equivalent
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
Personal

Vehicle

References
  1. "My RELA". My Rela. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  2. 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

Further reading
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