Big allocation in 2018 Budget shows govt confidence in Rela

A big allocation to the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the 2018 Budget recently proved the government's trust and confidence in the agency.

Rela deputy director-general (Operations), Kamaruddin Mohd Rapig, said the RM250 million allocation was also seen as a tribute to Rela that currently served as the second line of the country's defence, after the military and police.

"As previously mentioned by the Prime Minister, Rela is an agency that provides a platform to translate the transformation of the nation, people first, performance now.

"This shows that the government relies on Rela to safeguard the security of the people and the country, in line with the role of Rela now as a second line of defence after the military and police," he said in his opening speech at the 2017 National Rela Shooting Skills Test (UKMR-K) prize presentation ceremony at the Rela Northern Region Training Centre, Bukit Selambau, here, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, he said 432 participants comprising 16 teams, including 15 state teams and one Relasis Malaysia team, participated in three categories of weapons contested in UKMR-K 2017, namely M16s, shotguns and 9MM pistols.

Also present were Rela deputy director-general (Management) Hashim Shikh Ab Kadir and Kedah Rela director Ahmad Abdul Wahab.

--BERNAMA