PRIME Minister Najib Razak today announced a work allowance raise for the three million members of the People’s Volunteers Corp (Rela), as the general election looms.

He said an additional RM20 million was set aside for new uniforms, and Rela members could expect more perks if Umno/BN won big at the polls.

“In consideration of your loyalty, we have increased the allowance from RM6 to RM8 per hour,  and RM7.80 to RM9.80 for the officers,” he said at Rela’s 46th anniversary celebration in Serdang, this evening.

The RM20 million for new uniforms, he said, was on top of the RM180 million the government had committed to spend on uniforms for all Rela members nationwide.

“DPM (deputy prime minister) whispered to me earlier; he said I had approved RM80 million last year to buy uniforms, and RM100 million this year. He said it would be beautiful if we could just add RM20 million more to top up the RM180 million.

“So at this gathering, for your loyalty, I add another RM20 million because at present only 550,000 members out of more than three million Rela members have uniforms.”

Najib praised Rela members for being the government’s faithful eyes and ears. 

“With God’s grace, after we celebrate Hari Raya and if the government is given a new mandate, we can adds more allocations,” he said to thunderous applause from the 5,000 Rela members at the event. 

The Rela work allowance was last reviewed in 2012 – March 10, 2018.