THE Scouts Association of Malaysia Penang is seeking help from the state government to get approval to build its long-awaited campsite at its own plot of land adjacent to Penang National Park (Taman Negara) in Teluk Bahang.
State Chief Scouts Commissioner Zulkafli Kamaruddin said the campsite would be beneficial to their 20,000-strong Scout members to allow them to carry out their activities and programmes.
“Scouting in Malaysia originated from Penang during the British times in 1908 before the Scout movement developed all over Malaysia. Penang has a rich scouting history as it held the first Malaya Jamboree in Rifle Range in 1927 and the first Malaysian Jamboree in Teluk Bahang in 1966.
“But it is unfortunate that although Penang is the pioneer state and an established force in the scouting world, it is the only state in Malaysia now without a campsite,” Zulkafli, who is also the Chief Assistant Director of the Planning & Management Sector of the Penang Education Department in Bukit Gambir, told Buletin Mutiara in a recent interview.
Also present were deputy state Chief Scout Commissioner Henry Heng Soo Peng, Penang State Scout Association chairman Leon Lee and Penang State Scouts Association headquarters commissioner (Media & PR) Chew Kok Rui, who is also the Penang State Sports Council development sports officer.
Penang Scouts have been without a campsite for the past 15 years after the Coronation Camp in Waterfall Road was returned to the state government for the expansion of the nearby Botanic Gardens in 2006.
According to Zulkafli, his association had earlier bought a 14-acre land in Teluk Bahang from the state government in 1989 for the purpose of building a campsite.
He said they purchased it for RM90,000 through fundraising. Then, in 2017, they submitted plans to the relevant authorities to build the campsite.
He said they had initially obtained conditional approval from Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to build the campsite on Dec 15, 2020 but were shocked to receive a rejection letter from MBPP on May 31, 2021.
He added that while they were preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and taking other steps to comply with the conditions set by MBPP, they received a second letter from MBPP to say their application for the campsite had been turned down.
One reason given was that it undermines the sustainability of the Penang National Park based on Article 226 of the National Parks Act 1980, which stipulated that no development is allowed on the reserved land.
“But this Act does not include private land as far as I know and hence, does not involve us. It involves only Taman Negara. We purchased the land and pay tax every year. We, however, cannot use the land for commercial purposes, like build hotel.
“One of the Scouts’ principles is to love and protect the environment. So, the reason for the rejection is unacceptable.
“For the campsite, we will not build any concrete buildings or destroy the slopes. As this land happens to be close to a national park, we will use materials like canvas and wood.
“In fact, our architect has proposed to use only 60% of the land to preserve the environment. We don’t want to disturb the slopes and fell the trees.”
Zulkafli said it boggles him why the Scouts campsite is not allowed when the Penang National Park itself encourages public camping at the Pantai Kerachut and Teluk Kampi campsites in the park.
He said as they are now in a quandary, they had approached state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo and state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee for assistance and support.
Jagdeep, said Zulkafli, has assured them he would call for a meeting with heads of various departments, MBPP and the head of the Penang National Park soon to resolve the issue.
Heng said the former Penang governor Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, who was then the patron of the Scouts Association of Malaysia Penang, visited the site in Teluk Bahang in March last year. The new Penang Governor, Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak is automatically the new patron.
“When the campsite is set up, it will definitely be good news for the 20,000 Penang Scouts who constitute about 1 per cent of the state’s population,” said Heng, adding that the land on which the existing Wisma Pengakap Pulau Pinang stands in Jalan Scotland was donated by the Penang government, then headed by the first Chief Minister of Penang Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee.
Lee, who is also the founder and Group chief executive officer of Zeon Properties, chipped in: “We’ve longed for a campsite and we’ll do our best to find the resources to establish it.
“Once we have the campsite, we can kick start the camping activities particularly for the new generation.”
Zulkafli said if the campsite materialises, it would be offered to other uniformed bodies like the Girl Guides, St John Ambulance and Red Crescent, as well as government agencies if they want to hold events like team building.
He said Jagdeep had also proposed to build another campsite in Seberang Perai which he described as a very good idea. Potential sites have been suggested.
While camping activities are halted during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Zulkafli said the other scouting programmes never cease.
“From last year until now, we have carried out 223 programmes via online. We hold quiz, briefing, courses and many others. Penang Scouts have also helped distribute food to the needy families from house to house in Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam and Nibong Tebal.
“Very early on, we launched the Pengakap Lawan Covid campaign, the first in the world to do it. We donated the proceeds to Penang Lawan Covid Fund, presenting the mock cheque for RM10,000 to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow,” Zulkafli said.
Currently, he said Penang Scouts are working on the publication of a special book in which 52 Scout leaders, young and old, would share their experiences.
Also lined up are two online events next month. They will hold a “I’m Vaccinated” programme for those who completed two doses of vaccine to encourage more people to register for vaccination and then hold a presentation of certificate of appreciation and a medal each to 237 active Scouts.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud