Students volunteering for Rela to get fixed allowance, says Home Minister Saifuddin

PUTRAJAYA - The RM8 hourly allowance provided to members of the Malaysian Volunteer Corps (Rela) has been deemed inadequate and requires a review, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Saifuddin believes that the current rate is below the minimum wage threshold, making it insufficient for the workforce.

Saifuddin conducted a straightforward calculation to illustrate his point. He determined that if a Rela member worked for eight hours a day over a span of 24 days, they would earn less than the RM1,700 minimum wage. Similarly, even if the same member worked 12 hours a day for the same duration, their earnings would only marginally surpass the minimum wage threshold.

The minimum wage in Malaysia stands at RM1,700 per month. Working 24 days at RM8 per hour (eight hours daily) would result in a total of RM64 per day, which, when multiplied by 24 days, amounts to less than the minimum wage. Conversely, working for 12 hours daily for the same period would result in RM96 per day, slightly exceeding the minimum wage requirement. Saifuddin conveyed this information during a press conference following his attendance at the Home Ministry's monthly assembly.