300,000 Rela members to return BN in Selangor, warns PAS

(Harakahdaily) – PAS today warned of political agenda behind the decision to increase the number of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) in Selangor by another 300,000 next year.

Its information chief Idris Ahmad questioned whether the sudden increase of Rela members was a ploy to wrest away Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat, as these members could be depended upon by Barisan Nasional when they form part of the controversial postal votes in the coming general election.

“PAS hopes that our machinery and Pakatan Rakyat partners in Selangor will take this matter seriously. The modus operandi in Terengganu in 2004 by increasing the number of voters is now taking place in Selangor,” warned Idris, adding that Selangor was considered UMNO’s “gold mine and oxygen tank”.

Rela is a paramilitary volunteer corps, originally formed to serve as an auxiliary to the army during times of war. However, of late, the force attracted controversy with many members abusing their powers and involved in illegal raids on foreign immigrants settlements.

In 2007, rights group Human Rights Watch urged the Malaysian government to disband the organisation, citing numerous cases of illegal detentions, unlawful use of force, and extortion involving its members.

BN’s ‘fixed deposit’

Idris also lamented the inaction by the Election Commision over the use of postal votes, which he described as BN’s ‘fixed deposit’ during any election.

“For so long, PAS has been urging for the abolition of as we have documented evidences from former soldiers who said they did not know who had voted on their behalf,” he said.
 
He also expressed suprise over the EC’s recent move to disqualify 18,493 voters from the 2010 Third Quarter Voter Registration.

“Strangely enough… the bulk of those disqualified were from Kelantan (3,187), Kedah (2,876) and Perak (2,007),” he remarked.