Rela needs true volunteers

Time : 10.30AM | Venue ：Dewan Persatuan Ang Si Chong Soo, MK 14, Lorong Segar Jaya, Taman Segar, Mak Mandin, Butterworth |

VIEW ALBUM

BUTTERWORTH: The public should not be forced or pressured into joining Rela, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong.

He said they should only volunteer for the corps if they were genuine about serving the community.

“In our enthusiasm to register more new recruits, we should not overlook the conditions and criteria that are in place.

“Members of the public should not be made to feel they are obligated to join Rela.

■ Honorary majors: Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua Teik Siang (second from right) and Bagan MCA vice-chairman Sum Yoo Keong (third right) attending the recruitment drive in Butterworth yesterday.

“This is necessary to ensure we have a group of good quality members who are capable of carrying out Rela’s mission and vision,” he said when launching a campaign to recruit Rela members in the Bagan parliamentary constituency in Mak Mandin here yesterday.

Lee said although the corps had set a high target of achieving 2.6 million members by December from the current 2.1 million, the question of quantity should be secondary.

He also stressed that there was no hidden agenda behind the corps’ ongoing house-to-house recruitment drive.

“We merely want to invite as many Malaysians as possible to experience the spirit of volunteerism so that this will not diminish in our society,” he said.

Lee also advised Rela members to maintain discipline, disposition and friendliness in order for the corps to obtain recognition, which would in turn further spur the Government’s confidence in them.

He said Malaysians were now wise enough to value what was given to them and had the right to reject anything that was unbeneficial.

“That is why the Government is working hard for the people and is sensitive towards their needs and requests,” he said.

Also present at the function were Rela deputy director-general Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim and Penang Rela director Romli Awang.


The Star | Monday November 15, 2010 By DERRICK VINESH
derrickvinesh@thestar.com.my