705 Rela members undergo special course for deployment to ESSZone

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 705 members of the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) in Sabah have undergone a special course as a preparation for deployment to the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
Rela director-general Zulkifli Abidin said at present, 504 Rela members were being stationed in the zone to provide support to the security forces.
"Those chosen (for deployment to ESSZone) have undergone the basic course which had also exposed them to the use of firearm.
"They are also required to undergo basic training organised by the National Security Council and the Royal Malaysia Police before the deployment," he told reporters after the conferment of ranks ceremony for 18 associate members of Rela here today.
Zulkifli said the deployment of Rela members to ESSZone from Jan 1 this year was a new initiative taken by the government to help the security forces in monitoring the security in the 10 districts under ESSZone.
He said the responsibility to safeguard the country from harm should not be left only to the police and the armed forces because the community as a whole could play their roles in ensuring security across the country.
"However, we will not place Rela members in the front line or in any technical operations that will expose them to danger. Their operation will be more on patrolling villages and local areas," he explained. — Bernama