Mocking civil defence volunteers

Parti Warisan President and former Minister of Rural Development Dato’ Seri Shafie Apdal is lynched all over media for his lies against the nation’s civil defence volunteer corp RELA’s ability to prop the defence of realm.

That is far from the truth and Shafie lied to arouse the sentiments of Sabahans, in the usual fashion of sowing ‘Strategy of Hate’ as the tool to attack the Barisan Narional (BN) led Sabah Government. Sabah is also one of BN’s fixed ‘deposit state’.

According to Deputy Chief Secretary (Security) of Home Ministry Dato’ Seri Mustapha Ibrahim announced in September last year that in a pioneer project, 500 officers and other ranks of Sabah RELA would be deployed in the ESSZONE playing a secondary role.

They would be attending a short course on top of the usual courses RELA, for this very important internal security assignment for the Sabah.

RELA, which had its history formed as the Home Guards to supplement security for the villages against communist terrorists during the Emergency (1948-1960). Citizens stepped up and volunteer to patrol and provide secondary role for security.

Bernama story:

Rela kesal Shafie Apdal perlekeh fungsi jabatan itu

Januari 17, 2018 04:18 MYT

Mohd Shafie dilaporkan berkata anggota Rela hanya sesuai untuk perkhidmatan kawalan trafik di majlis-majlis kenduri sahaja. – Gambar hiasan

PUTRAJAYA: Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia (Rela) kesal dengan kenyataan yang dibuat Presiden Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yang mempersoalkan kredibiliti dan memperlekeh peranan anggotanya yang ditugaskan di Zon Selamat Timur Sabah (Esszone).

“Rela berpendapat kenyataan presiden parti itu sangat mengelirukan terutamanya kepada masyarakat Sabah dan ia merupakan satu penghinaan kepada 3.05 juta ahli Rela di seluruh negara,” katanya dalam kenyataan di sini pada Selasa.

Menerusi video yang tular di laman sosial pada Isnin, Mohd Shafie ketika berucap dalam program Bicara Presiden Warisan di Tuaran, Sabah, pada Ahad, dilihat mempertikaikan tindakan menempatkan anggota Rela yang tidak mahir dalam mengendalikan senjata api untuk penugasan di Esszone.Beliau dilaporkan berkata bahawa anggota Rela hanya sesuai untuk perkhidmatan kawalan trafik di majlis-majlis kenduri sahaja.

Rela berkata anggota yang dipilih untuk penugasan itu perlu melalui kursus asas dan kursus khas penugasan Esszone termasuk pengendalian senjata api.

— BERNAMA

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RELA is also a organised volunteer corp which is managed by a department under Home Ministry and consist of Malaysians from all walks of life and background.

Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Man spoke against Shafie’s lies and defended the RELA’s role in the security of the state and Sabahans.

Free Malaysia Today story:

Musa rises to the defence of Rela following Shafie’s remarks

Zam Yusa

| January 20, 2018

The Sabah chief minister says, without naming Shafie Apdal, that he should not be arrogant as he, too, had benefitted from the service of Rela members when he was a federal minister.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman today came to the defence of Rela members who are being sent to the high security Esszone area in the east coast of the state in the face of criticism by Parti Warisan Sabah president Shafie Apdal who apparently claimed they were only good for traffic and crowd control.

Musa who broke his silence on the controversy that has dogged Shafie did not mention him by name but openly rebuked him for belittling the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), pointing out that the opposition leader had himself benefitted from the services of Rela members when he was in government.

“A certain opposition political leader dared look down on Rela and the video of him running down the capability of the volunteer corps was plainly there for everyone to see,” Musa said.

“He said that Rela did not know how to use rifles, bombs and in fact all they knew was to direct road traffic and do guard duty at kenduri kahwin (marriage reception parties).

“As a leader, I’ve never belittled Rela. Belittling people especially the Rela is not our way and culture. Whether small or big, the contribution of Rela is important because they give their service for the welfare of the rakyat.

“Even when he was a federal minister, he received help from Rela, therefore he should not be arrogant.”

Musa was speaking at the official launch of the commencement of duty of Rela at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) at the corps’ training centre in Tuaran near here.

It could not be immediately established how many are being sent to Esszone but Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had in September last year stated that more than 120,000 Rela members would be stationed at Esszone in phases, starting with 500.

Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat and other dignitaries were present at the launch ceremony. About 1,000 Rela members attended the ceremony, many of whom cheered Musa during his criticism of the former Umno vice-president.

Earlier, at the same ceremony, Rela director-general Zulkifli Abidin urged Rela members to prove their sincerity in carrying out their duty.

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“What’s wrong with doing guard and road traffic duty if it’s for the sake of the people? There’s no need to insult us. I urge all Rela members to prove the allegations wrong. Even in the face of danger and against the enemies, Rela will not falter. We’ll keep giving our service with utmost loyalty.”

A video clip that went viral is said to contain Shafie’s comment during a meet-the-people gathering in Tuaran recently.

The clip was also uploaded by a local news portal with the caption “Shafie Apdal hina 3.05 juta anggota Rela” (Shafie Apdal insults 3.05 million Rela members).

It had received more than 50 comments as of Tuesday, including one from a Mohd Jagoan who attempted to explain the context of Shafie’s speech.

He said in fact Shafie was not degrading Rela members but simply questioning the government’s seriousness in safeguarding Esszone areas.

“Why rely on Rela when the government can empower Esscom (Eastern Sabah Security Command)? Where is the army (battalion) that was promised to guard Esszone?

“Rela members, if it is true they will be directly involved in safeguarding Esszone, should demand a pay rise or full-time salary from the government instead of bashing Shafie,” he said.

A police report was subsequently lodged against Shafie by a Rela member in Tawau calling on him to apologise for belittling the corps.

In the days that followed Warisan deputy president Darrell Leiking had also spoken out in defence of Shafie, saying the party chief’s comments on the matter had been taken out of context.

FMT has contacted Shafie for comments and is awaiting is reply.

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Two days earlier, Perlis RELA made a Police report against Shafie.

Bernama story:

Perlis Rela lodges police report against Shafie Apdal

Posted on 19 January 2018 – 06:37pm

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Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. — BBX image

KANGAR: The Perlis People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) has lodged a police report against Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal for allegedly belittling the role of its members.

Its spokesman Yahya Bakar said Perlis Rela also wanted the former Rural and Regional Development Minister to apologise to its members.

“Do not underestimate RELA members. Some of us know how to operate firearms because we were security personnel before,” he told reporters after lodging the report at the Kangar police headquarters here today.

Mohd Shafie, when delivering a speech at the ‘Bicara Presiden Warisan’ programme in Tuaran, Sabah recently, had alleggedly questioned the purpose of deploying Rela members who did not know how to handle firearms in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone). — Bernama

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Shafie should be investigated under Sedition Act.

Shafie’s lies and sowing ‘Hate Strategy’ are getting lame and it is evidently clear that he is unable these stories are unable to hold water. It is obvious that he is running out of real issues to take down BN, even for a handful seats.

This is not withstanding of the cases now being actively investigated about him when he was the Minister of Rural Development.