Scouts camps to be upgraded

SCOUTS camps throughout the country will be renovated with additional infrastructure built in, said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said.

“This will be a continuous upgrade,” she said in her speech recently when closing the 11th Malaysian Scout Jamboree.

She said the camps involved included those in Perak, Johor, Kelantan and Selangor.

Chief scout Datuk Seri Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh and Dr Kamarruddin with some of the scouts from Selangor.

She also announced that additional grants would be given to the Scouts Associa- tion of Malaysia to carry out tasks like its administrative duties.

Azalina said the ministry would continue to pay the RM126,000 annual subscription of the association to the World Scouts Movement.

She also called on the association and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help the ministry in identifying the issues and problems faced by the youth today.

“Use the youth to talk to the youth and hopefully the social problems can be lessened,” she added.

She added that NGOs should not get too self-absorbed but include non-members in activities or allow them to use their facilities.

There was also a handing over ceremony to Selangor, which will host the 12th Malaysian Scout Jamboree in four years time.

In his speech, Colonel Prof Datuk Dr Kamarudin Kachar, the National Chief Scout Commissioner of Malaysia, said those who joined scouting were not found involved in social problems like drug addiction or illegal racing.

He said this was because the movement taught them positive behaviour like being pure in thoughts and deeds, patience as well as being thrifty.

“They are also not a nuisance to their parents,” he said.

Source : TheStar.com.my