Government tables RELA Act

By Clara Chooi

April 17, 2012

File photo of RELA members marching at a parade. — Picture courtesy of www.rela.gov.my

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Putrajaya proposed today a new law to strengthen and reorganise the Malaysia Volunteers Corps (RELA) as a part of the government’s efforts to beef up security efforts in the face of “new threats” like drugs and human trafficking. The Malaysia Volunteers Corps Bill 2012, tabled in the Dewan Rakyat for first reading this morning, is among the slew of legislative reforms proposed by the Najib administration.

The Bill stipulates that every officer and member of RELA are duty-bound to:

1) Assist any security force or authority established under written law upon request of the force or authority;

2) To give assistance to the relevant authority in controlling and diverting motor vehicle;

3) To take part in community service;

4) To assist in protecting building, installation or other property belonging to the federal or state government or any statutory body or such private property upon request of the owner of the building, installation or property: and

5) To carry out any orders and directions issued by the director-general not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.

The Bill adds that for the purpose of carrying out their duties, RELA personnel shall come under the command of “an officer of the security force or authority... who is present at the place”.

The Bill, however, does not touch on the organisation’s enforcement powers, as was expected.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had said in December last year that a new law would be tabled to reform RELA to help deal with “new threats” such as drugs and human trafficking.

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