A 'Caring' Government's Unsympathetic Response To Vigilantism - "We Will Not Disband RELA."

From a report in TheStar today.

The Government will not dissolve Rela just because a handful of its members are involved in crime, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said.

He said Rela, which has 450,000 members, was still relevant in maintaining security.

“The Government acknowledges Rela’s role and Parliament has empowered its members to conduct raids and arrest illegal immigrants,” he told reporters.

He was responding to allegations by a non-government organisation and Al Jazeera cable TV station that Rela members had acted violently in operations involving illegal migrants, with the foreign media likening Rela members to militants.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) executive director Yap Swee Seng had recently also called on the Government to disband Rela to prevent the “growth of the vigilante culture.”

In defence of the voluntary community defence group, Radzi said: “Rela organises raids together with agencies like the Immigration and National Registration departments. It is not right to liken them to militia or call them vigilantes.”

Rela had helped detain 16,000 illegal immigrants so far this year, he said.

***** Vigilantes they definitely are and no amount of denial from the government is going to change that opinion. This group of indisciplined thugs have already gained international notoriety and are a disgrace to the nation. By persisting in maintaining the status quo, the authorities have shown that their personal and political interests are more important than the reputation of the country. These thugs are a solid vote bank for the ruling party as long as their opprobrious actions are left unquestioned and their members not harassed or punished.
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Nutcase of a Rela Chief fights back. Details HERE