Malaysia seeks to increase RELA volunteer hourly allowances

Malaysia's Home Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, has called for a review of the hourly allowance for members of the Malaysia Volunteer Corps (RELA). The current rate of RM8 per hour is considered insufficient as it falls below the current minimum wage when calculated based on standard working hours.

Saifuddin noted that a member working eight hours a day for 24 days a month would earn only RM1,536, which is below the RM1,700 minimum wage threshold. He has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs' top leadership to continue discussions with the Ministry of Finance to finalize a reasonable new rate, aiming for implementation as early as the next financial year.

Additionally, the Minister announced that approximately 1,300 RELASIS (student volunteers) will begin receiving an RM8 hourly training allowance, a benefit they had not previously received since the group's establishment in 2017.