1,400 scouts gather for jamboree in Malacca

By PERCY D’CRUZ MALACCA: Renewing friendships and forging new ones, strong bonding and camaraderie – these characteristics stood out foremost among some 1,400 scouts at the 6th edition of the Malacca Historical City Scout Jamboree recently. Apart from Malaysia, the scouts came from Maldives, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia for the five-day meet opened by Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at Tan Chay Yam Camp in Bukit Katil. The scouts and their respective troop leaders had an enjoyable time catching up with one and all. Joyous moment: Scouts celebrating after receiving their certificates of merit at the jamboree in Malacca recently. The majority also discovered scopes beyond campsites and campfires as they tapped each other's innovative techniques, expertise and knowledge related to pioneering and the outdoors during daily in-house activities and skills-sharing sessions. Jamboree participants, especially the overseas ones, visited many historic and landmark sites in downtown Malacca via bus. They also savoured traditional and local cuisine at local food courts and hawker stalls. Asia Pacific Region Scouts chairman Eric Khoo said besides friendship and solidarity, the jamboree provided a platform for scouts to exhibit numerous gadgets, props and kits tailor-made to make scouting more versatile and in line with self-reliance. In conjunction with the jamboree, 27 local scout leaders received the Anugerah Gemilang Presiden while another 25 from Indonesia were awarded the Anugerah Presiden by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam at a dinner in Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh. Following the opening ceremony, Khalil bestowed King Scout awards to 59 recipients from various secondary schools in the state for Year 2006 while another 78 garnered similar awards for Year 2007.