Rela receives pressure washers, face masks, gloves, hoses
KOTA KINABALU: The People’s Volunteers Corps (Rela) plays a bigger role nowadays, including in assisting in roadblocks during Movement Control Order (MCO), ensuring standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance, safeguarding Covid-19 quarantine centres, maintaining security and supporting flood relief efforts.
Sabah Rela director Mohammad Pauzi Jhumat said the responsibility of Rela personnel was not only limited to directing traffic or maintaining order during wedding receptions.
“The community need us to assist in all kinds of work,” he said, adding that there were 305,000 Rela personnel in Sabah.
He said 1,300 Rela personnel were on duty daily amid the Covid-19 pandemic, who are stationed at roadblocks and quarantine centres, as well as assisted the police in ensuring compliance with SOP in crowded areas such as markets.
In the recent floods, Pauzi said 532 Rela personnel were involved in the temporary shelters for flood victims.
And for the first time, he said Rela would be helping the community in cleaning up mosques, surau, schools, community halls and homes after the flood.
“No other agency is doing this. We are taking up the cleaning up work.”
He said this to the media a er receiving eight units of pressure washer, 1,000 pieces of face masks, 200 pairs of gloves and three hoses from Persatuan Ahli-Ahli Bersekutu dan Kehormat Jabatan Sukarelawan (Rela) Malaysia Negeri Sabah led by president Dato’ Sri Wong Chong Fah here yesterday.
Pauzi said the donation would be delivered to flood-hit areas for cleaning up work.
“We shall send the items to Kota Belud today.
“Yesterday, we have delivered four units of pressure washers to Papar and Beaufort,” he added.
Once the temporary shelters were closed, he said Rela personnel would assist the community in cleaning up their premises.
Pauzi continued to say that 504 Rela personnel were deployed in 10 districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), including in Nabawan and districts bordering Indonesia.
He said Rela’s job in ESSZone was to keep an eye on the community and report to the authorities on suspicious individuals, as well as alert villagers to any dangers.
Meanwhile, Wong said Rela was taking on more responsibilities now, especially in assisting flood relief efforts and ensuring Covid-19 SOP compliance.
“We hope our donation would help make sure Rela is better equipped to help the flood victims.
“As Rela personnel are also frontliners, the face masks and gloves would protect them against Covid-19.”
Also present were Persatuan AhliAhli Bersekutu dan Kehormat Jabatan Sukarelawan (Rela) Malaysia Negeri Sabah vice president Phang Jyn Yenn and treasurer Gracelina Oscar.