MUKAH: November 22 was a memorable moment for 158 students of Polytechnic Mukah (PMU) when they were officially inducted as the pioneers of the PMU Volunteers, RELASIS. Established under the Volunteers Department of Malaysia(RELA), PMU was the second polytechnic in the state to form this voluntary uniformed body.
That historical occasion of sorts for the citizen of the learning centre, located about 10 kilometers from Mukah Town, was officiated by RELA Malaysia Deputy Director-General (Operation), Haji Kamaruddin Mohd Rapig.
It was held in conjunction with the 5th Series of RELA Basic Course 2017 staged at Dataran Pehin Setia Raja Mukah, here. The event also saw the induction of RELASIS ranks for associate brigade officers from PMU, namely, its Academic Deputy Director, Zaulkafli Mohamed as RELASIS Commander, and Lecturers, Mohd Azlan Abd Aziz (Deputy Commander), Mariati Masduki(Deputy Commander), Norazam Azizi Othman(Adjutant RELASIS) , Ami r Haz iq Loh Bojeng(Logistic Officer), Mazira Ramli ( Training Officer), Mohammad Nor Ihsan Md Zin (Data Officer), & Norshahril Abu Talib(Valuation Officer). They, including the students had successfully completed the six-day RELA Basic course which was also one of the condition to attend the advanced course called TOT, Leadership, Management and Fire-arm Management. Also present at the function were RELA Malaysia Headquarters Squad Development Division Director, Zubir Mustaffa, State RELA Director, Rini Tupong, Mukah District RELA Officer, Shazali Sulaiman, Polytechnic Mukah(PMU) Director, Haji Abdubrani Yunus, heads of departments and local community leaders.
The understanding of creating RELASIS as one of the uniform squads in Polytechnic had been signed at Akademi RELA Malaysia(ALARM) Malacca and the RELASIS would be established in every polytechnic in Malaysia in stages. He pointed out that the students or graduates who join RELASIS would benefit from insurance coverage, rank promotion in the squad, weapon management, foot drill training and exposures to various safety or security techniques. RELASIS was also an appropriate platform to spur and inculcate the spirit of volunteerism among the students of institution of higher learning.
“Every Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) could form RELASIS with a minimum participation of 33 students or One platoon. The official written application should be forwarded to state RELA Office for recommendation and confirmation before sending it to the RELA Malaysia Headquarters for consideration and approval,” disclosed Kamaruddin who represented RELA Malaysia Director-General, Zulkifli Abidin at the half-day programme. Among the activities of the day were Foot Drill including demonstration of creative dancing foot drill, the induction of the Associate Ranks to the participating staff and lecturers of PMU, presentation of prizes and certificates to RELA and RELASIS members.
