Jazlan (second right) pins a badge onto a Rela member as (from right) Kamariah, Dr Anthony, Huang and Khalid look on.
SARIKEI: Rela can be a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the 11th state election especially in several ‘hot’ seats in the state.
As part of the national security system, Rela members should be loyal to the government of the day, hence they were expected to rally in full force in supporting the government and its policies, Deputy Home Minister 1 Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said.
Assuming that all Rela members were staunch supporters of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government, he believed they could be ‘king maker’ in areas where its membership was high, Nur Jazlan said.
Citing Meradong where there were 4,668 registered Rela members of whom 4,372 were registered voters, their votes could cast a phenomenal impact, he said, adding, they could even be considered as ‘king maker’.
“As Rela members make up 25.84 per cent of the 16,918 registered voters in Meradong and assuming that all of them are BN supporters, they only need to bring with them one vote each to ensure a victory for the BN,” he said.
He, however, explained that Rela members were not mobilised as the BN’s election machinery, as their services were needed to ensure a peaceful and orderly situation during the election period, pointing out that Rela members were third in line of national defence after the army and police.
Nur Jazlan who represented Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at a leader with Rela gathering at the civic centre here Sunday, said that he was pleased to note that more people were interested to join Rela from time to time.
That was reflected in the registration of a total of 125,000 members in Sarawak alone in the past eight months, he added.
According to him, there were over three million Rela members nationwide todate including over 340,000 in Sarawak.
Rela Malaysia director-general Datuk Kamariah Mohd Noah, in her welcoming speech called on members in the state to always maintain a high level of volunteerism spirit and to make it a point to meet the expectations of the government and the people.
In the upcoming state polls, she advised them to stand solidly behind the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
She said Sarawak government was very supportive of Rela’s role that recently the Chief Minister had contributed RM8 million for purchasing their uniforms which was later matched by the federal government.
She reminded them to play their role as ears and eyes of the government at all times including during the 11th state election period.
About 1,800 Rela members from the Division and nearby districts were present at the function which also witnessed the presentation of service awards, Rela badge and rank and file in recognition of their contributions in past years.
Among those present were Sarikei Resident Dr Anthony Valentine Laiseh, Sarikei District Officer Khalid Andong, BN candidate for Repok Dato Huang Tiong Sii and BN candidate for Meradong Ding Kuong Hiing.