The Malaysian Volunteer Department (RELA) will introduce stricter requirements for the recruitment of its new members to prevent applicants who are not Malaysians and have disciplinary problems from joining the force.

Its deputy director-general (Management) HashimShikhAb Kadir said the new requirements included checks with the National Registration Department, the National Anti-Drugs Agency and the Prisons Department.

"There will be stricter requirements for newintake thisyear even though there is always a need for new members.

"This is because we want every member to have a high level of discipline on par with the other security forces in the country," he told reporters after the presentation of donationchequesto widows of seven RELA personnel Friday.

Also present were Kelantan RELA director Md Rawi Mohamad and Gua Musang RELA officer Yusof Ahmad.

Hashim said to date, the department had about three millionmembers including250,000 in Kelantan.