Rela, the people’s volunteer corps, is trimming its force; at least 186,000 individuals are about to have their memberships cancelled for various reasons. This also includes those with criminal records.
The Star Online quotes Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying that the organisation was conducting screenings because they only want people who are ‘clean, honest and of high integrity’.
“Rela is an honourable organisation. In fact, it is the nation’s second line of defence after the police and armed forces. That is why, we only want members who are honourable, clean, honest and of high integrity,” he was quoted further.
Rela services began in the 1960s. Its purpose was now to be a volunteer force as the nation’s line of defence and to guard the welfare of the citizens of Malaysia. Just over one million of its current batch of volunteers are aged below 30.
The New Straits Times reports that among the thousands of volunteers about to be terminated, 34 had criminal records.
