PENANG is gearing up to send its largest contingent of 43 participants to the 25th World Scout Jamboree 2023 (WSJ25) in Saemangeum, South Korea from Aug 1 to 12.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the president of the Penang State Scouts Council, presented the Scouts Association of Malaysia Penang official flag to team leader Wong Kok Nian in a simple ceremony at Komtar today.
Wong, who is also the state Scout International Commissioner, will lead the team comprising 13 participants (14 to 17 years old) and 29 participants (18 years old and above) under the International Service Team (IST).
The junior participants come from five schools, namely SMK Bukit Mertajam, SMK Jalan Damai, SMJK Jit Sin, SMJK Heng Ee and SMJK Chung Ling.
Taking place once every four years, the World Scout Jamboree is the largest camping activity in the Scout movement worldwide. An estimated 45,000 participants are expected to attend this year’s jamboree, themed ‘Draw Your Dream.’
In addition to the World Scout Jamboree, three outstanding Penang state Scout members have been selected to represent Penang at the Friendship Jamboree organised by the Hsinchu Scout Association in Taiwan on July 1 and 2.
Wong Kok Nian, the team contingent leader to the World Scout Jamboree, is also one of three Scouts going to Taiwan along with Teoh Kheng Lin and Chew Kok Rui, who is the state Scout commissioner (Media & PR) and also the Penang State Sports Council development sports officer.
“As ambassadors, I hope that the members of the contingents can take on a big role and protect the good image of Penang and the country. Besides that, I hope they will seize this opportunity to gain new knowledge and always be enthusiastic in carrying out all the activities during the jamboree.
“Well done and congratulations to PPMNPP for this proud participation and achievement.
“This has shown that the Penang Scout movement is not only active and leading the way in Malaysia, but also forging close cooperation and friendship with other countries at the international level,” Chow said in his speech.
Since being appointed as president of the Penang State Scout Council in 2019, Chow said he has had the opportunity to follow the development of the organisation more closely and was happy with its proud achievement.
He expressed confidence that PPMNPP can lead and continue the excellence of the organisation to produce more quality human capital and provide benefits to the community, state and country.
Looking to the future, Chow expressed his hopes for continued initiatives at the state level to promote holistic youth development, empowering them to become catalysts for positive change within the community and nurturing them as potential leaders of tomorrow.
Among those present were state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, state Chief Scout Commissioner Datuk Zulkafli Kamaruddin, deputy state Chief Scout Commissioner Henry Heng Soo Peng, state Education Department deputy director Mohd Hafife Abdul Halim and the schools’ representatives.
Soon said the world jamboree would be a good exposure for the Penang Scouts to gain experience and establish new friendships.
Zulkafli thanked both Chow and Soon for their morale support and also the state government for its RM6,000 sponsorship.
He said Penang Scouts would constitute a significant 10% of the Malaysian contingent participating in the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea, emphasising the strong ties between Penang and South Korea throughout the years.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat
