Tower of bamboo, firewood and rope

IMAGINE a tower five storeys high built out of nothing but bamboo, firewood and rope. Forty members of the 219th Kinta Scout Shiang Yang Open Troop took five days to create the 21.3-metre high structure at SMK Bercham in Ipoh. Its scoutmaster Leong Siew Chuan, 25, said they used 300 pieces of wood, 100 bamboo poles and 50kg of rope. With nine platforms and 13 sets of stairs, the structure is solid enough to hold up to 70 Scouts at one time. Two people could squeeze onto the top of the tower, he said. Troop creation:The scouts posing in front of their tower. The structure was built in conjunction with the troop’s first nationwide campfire gathering attended by over 500 scouts and girl guides from 25 schools recently. The tower, to be dismantled soon, was meant to be a test of their skills in line with their campfire theme of ‘breaking through their limits’, said Leong. MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan launched the event on Saturday night by lighting a bonfire at the school with Bercham assemblyman Gooi Seng Teik. In his speech, he lauded the troop for organising the gather- ing that also challenged the 500 scouts in various contests of skill. The SMJK Kwong Hua Scout troop was named overall cham-pion, SMK Poi Lam’s was the best disciplined while the SMK Chan Wa scouts from Seremban were the most supportive. The contest winners were Kuen Cheng Girl’s School (backwoods cooking), SMJK Chung Hwa, Se-remban (mini gadgets), SM Sam Min 60th girl’s group (semaphore and marching), SMJK Kwong Hua’s 13th Unit Ranger Group 1 (modern cooking), SMJK Shing Chung, Sun- gai Siput, (highlight and drama) and SMK Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur (dance). Source : TheStar.com.my

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.

World Scouting Jamboree

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

Disability not a deterrent for gutsy girl

NOREEDA REDHWAN, a disabled person, loves the scouts movement because it has helped her be independent.

Her determination was evident when the 16-year-old, who suffers from cerebral palsy, made the long bus trip from Penang to Negri Sembilan to take part in the 11th Malaysian Scout Jamboree.

“This is the first time I am taking part in something like this. Of course I want to be here because I want to gain experience,” said the excited Noreeda, who is with the Penang Cheshire Home.

“I like scouting because it teaches me to be independent and it is challenging. I am okay. The illness is not painful. It is just that I cannot walk.”

Mohamad Hasan (right) meeting Noreeda as the others look on.

Noreeda became a scout three years ago and recently took part in an “agoonoree”, which is a jamboree for special scouts in Penang.

“I went canoeing ... I do what I can. Besides, there are always friends around who are willing to help me,” she added.

Noreeda also met with Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who visited the site for a final inspection.

She is one of the 6,084 scouts who gathered at the Ulu Bendul Forest Reserve for the jamboree, which is held every four years.

This is the first time that the event is being held in Negri Sembilan. A total of 454 foreign scouts participated in the jamboree, which started on Dec 13.

Among the activities planned for the scouts were canoeing, a trek up Gunung Angsi, rafting and flying fox.

Assisting Noreeda during the jamboree was Penang Cheshire Home therapy assistant Salinder Vathi Mohandas, 27, who said those with special needs were able to participate in activities like the tele-match, flying fox and canoeing.

“They can do a lot. All they need is the chance to try,” she said.

Source : TheStar.com.my

Carnival-like jungle jamboree

By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

THERE has been a carnival-like atmosphere at the foot of Gunung Angsi in Negri Sembilan ever since boy scouts from around Malaysia and several foreign countries set up camp there on Dec 12.

The forest reserve area, known as the Ulu Bendul Recreational Park in Kuala Pilah, is crawling with about 7,000 scouts of all ages who are attending the 11th Malaysian Scout Jamboree that ends tomorrow.

The jamboree is markedly different from such events held in yesteryear. Among the tents pitched in the jungle are makeshift cybercafes for scouts to keep in touch with their families and friends back home via e-mail or for those who just cannot do without the trappings of information technology even when they are camping in the great outdoors.

The scouts also get a chance to do some shopping and “dining out” as there are also tents or stalls selling souvenirs, and food and drinks.

(From left) Malaysian Girl Guides Sri Izzati and Alifah Abdullah exchanging souvenirs with their counterparts from Maldives Mariyam Ramsha Mohd, Aishath Shamra and Aminath Sharumeela during the jamboree.

Howard Lai, 42, a scout for more than 30 years, is making brisk business selling souvenirs at the jamboree. "My souvenir items are mostly related to the scouts movement."

"I set up stalls during occasions like jamboree as my scouting passion is too strong to lose touch with the movement,” said the special projects manager for Zonicerovers, a company based in Taman Ehsan, Kepong.

Hafiz Mansor, Hermawan Waren and Adam Riyadi from Pengakap Selangor were busy surfing the Internet at one of the many booths set up by private companies.


“This is our first jamboree and we are enjoying every moment of our time here. Eight days is just not enough,” said the boys.Surfing the net is just another hobby for the lads who also love the age-old scouting tradition of swapping badges and other scouting accessories with their “brothers” from other states or countries.

Burger seller Shafizan Mohd Shafie doing brisk business as hungry Scouts search for snacks at the carnival-like jamboree.

Scouts from Sri Lanka, Britain, Indonesia, the Maldives, Singapore and Brunei added international flavour to the jamboree.

International Commissioner for the Sri Lanka Scouts Association, Shanta Madurawe, 35, said the Scouts movement was growing in strength worldwide and introducing information technology into jamborees was one effective way to get connected with counterparts from other countries.

“I have been a scout for 24 years and I think we have to move with the times to make scouting more appealing and challenging to the younger set,” he added.

Even though cybercafes add a touch of the 21st century to the jamboree, members of the movement founded by Robert Baden-Powell 96 years ago still enjoy the sense of camaraderie in holding campfires, singing, cooking, trekking and working together at their jungle gathering.

Strive to develop, MB tells scouts

By AUDREY EDWARDS

WITH the introduction of more uniformed units in schools, the scout movement needs to work harder to ensure that it continues to develop, said Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

“There are too many uniformed units in schools. And lately, it seems that students are losing interest in becoming scouts,” he said when opening the state level Scouts Association of Malaysia's bi-annual general meeting.

“Now, the scouts have to compete.” he said.

Mohamad also said that the movement needed to look at its own organisation and suggested that district education offices be included in the scouts association in order to increase the effectiveness of the movement.

He added that membership of the scouts should be increased to 23,000 compared to the current 15,000.“Out of this figure, only 10% of them are active,” he said.

He also said a site, located in the Rembau district of Miku, had been set aside to become an International Scouts Camp for courses and camps to be held for scouts from other countries.