Several quarters including members of the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) in Sarawak are not only disappointed but also upset over the appointments of Peninsular Malaysians as Rela chiefs for certain districts in the state.

According to Rela Liaison officer for Penrissen, Paul Akiu, Rela members in certain districts are contemplating surrendering their uniforms and quitting the uniformed body.

“They are disappointed with the appointments of Peninsular Malaysians as Rela chiefs in Sarawak which they consider a gross humiliation to them,” Paul was quoted by The Borneo Post as saying.

“We really don’t know what the federal government is trying to tell us now. Or are they saying that no local people are qualified for that particular post ?” he asked.

Among the districts said to be currently headed by West Malaysian Rela chiefs are Bau, Padawan and Serian.

Expressing a similar concern was Bau district Rela member Jossem Daweg who said that local Rela members felt it illogical to appoint someone to monitor a place they were not familiar with.

“The Bau district Rela chief now comes from Penang and I heard that the Padawan district Rela is being headed by someone from Perak.

“From what I understand, other districts in Sarawak are also in the same situation,” he said, pointing out that many local Rela members in Bau were threatening to quit.

Appoint retired cops

A retired senior police officer, John Suahara, said there was no excuse for district Rela chiefs to come from Peninsular Malaysia.

“Are locals not qualified to become district Rela chiefs with Sarawakians being able to even outsmart communist terrorists in the early days of the formation of Malaysia?

“We even helped Malaya to get rid of communists from the Peninsular,” he noted.

He pointed out retired police officers could be appointed to head these posts, and there were many of them around who have invaluable experience in security measures and control.

He also said the chief minister should use the state's immigration powers to control West Malaysians from working in Sarawak.

“Let us see whether the chief minister will walk the talk in protecting the interests of Sarawakians,” said John.

Another retired police officer  who declined to be identified noted that the  paramilitary civil volunteer corps Rela was the third force in the country formed after the army and the police.

“What I fear is that these non-local Rela chiefs will use Rela members in Sarawak for political reasons in view of the coming state elections,” said the retired officer.

Up until May 2013, there were 2,873,671 Rela members throughout the country.

Meanwhile, social media  users have also expressed their anger over the appointments of West Malaysians as district Rela chiefs in the state. Following are some of the comments posted on Facebook.

'Enough is enough'

'Philip Tero: West Malaysians control the police stations and all branches of the Malaysian army.

I think it is high time Sabah and Sarawak should say 'enough is enough' to  this Malayan stupidity'

Edgar Ong: This is insulting. A slap in the face.

Morshidi Abdul Rahman: It is funny that Sarawakians are not even qualified for Rela chiefs but could be appointed as a 'parrot minister' at the federal level.

Aden Nagarace: What is happening to our beloved Malaysia? Macam macam boleh jad i.'