RELA plays significant role in arrests involving cross-border crimes - Hamzah

LARUT: Members of the People's Volunteers Corps (RELA) have played a significant role in maintaining national security as seen from the arrests made involving various cross-border crimes, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

He said among others, the arrests were for attempts to smuggle in drugs and human trafficking offences.

"We have been successful because of their cooperation as the ears and eyes of the security forces and the training which they have been given.

"Within a year after starting the programme, we enlisted them and with sufficient training developed closely according to the Royal Malaysia Police Standard Operating Procedures, it is hoped that they would be ready to carry out the duties of an auxiliary police," he said in an interview with the media.

Hamzah said there was a need for RELA teams to use weapons and this has been included in the training modules for those required to handle firearms.

He added that so far, nearly 1,000 RELA members have undergone training, including skills training in using weapons when carrying out tasks during operations in areas at risk.

-- BERNAMA.