Najib (centre), with Ahmad Zahid behind him, enters the hall to the applause of Rela personnel.
KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced an allocation of RM20 million over the next two years for the state People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) specifically for the purchase of uniforms.
“I will approve RM10 million for uniforms, I will approve RM10 million this year, I will approve RM10 million next year, so it is now RM20 million,” he said when addressing a crowd of about 12,000 Rela personnel at the leaders-meet-Rela programme at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), yesterday.
Meanwhile, Najib on behalf the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, announced that the state government had also allocated a 38-acre plot of land in Sematan for the setup of a Rela training centre.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, requested RM10 million from the federal government for Rela to purchase uniforms for its personnel.
Ahmad Zahid hoped Najib would approve the allocation to equip all its members with uniforms.
Ahmad Zahid said there were 341,000 Rela personnel in Sarawak out of the 3.8 million personnel nationwide.
Rela personnel are the second line of defence after the police and armed forces to safeguard the country and the people.
Najib then approved the allocation of RM20 million over the next two years for the department on the spot to the loud applause of those present.
Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, federal cabinet ministers and deputy ministers and the state’s top administrative officers were also present at the event.