Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia (The Scouts Association of Malaysia, PPM) is an organisation for boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 17, based in Malaysia. Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia is part of the global Scouting movement and national member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). It is the only uniformed body in Malaysia to have been established and officially regulated by an act of parliament through the Scouts Association Of Malaysia (Incorporation) Act 1968.
HISTORY
Scouting was first introduced in Singapore in 1908, but was officially founded on July 2, 1910, when young Scoutmaster Frank Cooper Sands arrived in Singapore from Nottingham and established two Boy Scout troops in Singapore for the children of the British colonists. From there, the movement spread to other parts of the Straits Settlements and what were to become the states of Malaysia. Sands spent the next 40 years helping to create Scouting in the region, and is often called the "Father of Malayan Scouting".
In 1974, Datuk Syed Hashim bin Abdullah was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting. Other recipients include Tan Sri Kamarul Ariffin bin Mohd Yassin in 1983.
Founding of Scouting in the States of Malaysia
The founding of Scouts movements in the states of Malaysia were, by date and founder
1913 - Sabah, by Reverend Thomas Cecil Alexander in Sandakan [1]
1915 - Penang, by H. R. Cheeseman of the Penang Free School
1915 - Sarawak, by Reverend Thomas Cecil Alexander in Kuching (active only from 1930 onwards). [2]
1922 - Kedah, by E.C. Hicks, E.A.G. Stuart, R.P.S. Walker and C.W. Bloomfield
1926 - Perak, by I.R. Wheeler at Malay College Kuala Kangsar
1926 - Melaka, by R. Brunstone in Malacca
1926 - Negeri Sembilan, by R. Brunstone, Bird and Roger Smith
1926 - Selangor, by Ameen Akbar
1927 - Terengganu, by A.J. Gracle
1927 - Kelantan, by Y.M. Tengku Ahmad Temenggong
1928 - Johor, by H.R. Cheeseman in the English College (now Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar).
1931 - Perlis, by Bird and Roger Smith
Pahang, by G.M. Laidlow in Pekan, restored in 1927 by H.P. Hertslet
SECTIONS
Pengakap kanak-kanak (Cub Scout) between 10 to 12 years. Motto: "DO YOUR BEST", official color: Yellow.
Pengakap Muda (Junior Scout) between 13 to 15.5 years. Motto: "BE PREPARED", official color: Green.
Pengakap Remaja (Senior Scout) between 15.5 to 17.5 years. Motto: "LOOK WIDE", official color: Red.
Pengakap Kelana (Rover Scout) adults who still practise scouting. Motto: "SERVICE".
Kumpulan Latihan Kelanasiswa Malaysia, KLKM (Malaysian University Rover Training Group) and Kumpulan Latihan Malaysia, KLM (Malaysian Training Group) are rover scout groups from higher educational institutions and colleges.
UNIFOM
A Junior Scout's uniform consists of a short-sleeve (girls wear long sleeves) grey shirt, with two pockets with buttons on the left and right breast, the official neckerchief, the forage cap, navy-blue pants, the official bronze belt, navy-blue socks and black canvas shoes with laces. A miniature Malaysian flag is stitched on the right breast pocket and the Tenderfoot badge stitched on the left one. The neckerchief, with red, white and blue stripes, is worn about the collar, fastened with the official woggle. The forage cap has a badge with the Malaysian Scout emblem on one side.
On the left sleeve are one's patrol's name and merit badges. On the right sleeve is one's state, district, and troop number. The advancement badge is sewn below the troop number when a Junior Scout earns it. Depending on a Junior Scout's rank and/or badges, he/she may be allowed to wear a lanyard.
A Senior Scout's uniform is the same as the Junior Scout's except for the position of badges. The King's Scout badge is worn on the left sleeve, five centimetres below the patrol badge. On the left sleeve is one's patrol's name, and one's advancement badges. The Senior Scout's have up to five advancement badges. Once taken, the Senior Scout will go on to become a King's Scout. The King's Scout badge is worn five centimeters below the patrol badge in place of all five Senior Badges.
A Leader's (Rovers/Scoutmasters) uniform is the same as the Junior Scouts with the exception of the badges sewn and the epaulets worn. Rovers wear red epaulets while Assistant Scoutmasters through the Chief Scout wear blue epaulets bearing different symbols. A Rover Crew may make its own Crew emblem and the one can sew it on the right sleeve below the Crew Letter. The uniform also includes a picture of Paul Fredin. The advancement badges for Rovers are worn on the left breast, below the Rover badge, while the miniature King's Scout Badge is worn on the right sleeve.
Creed and rank advancement
Scout Oath
The Scout Oath is:
Bahawa dengan sesungguhnya saya berjanji dan bersetia, yang saya dengan seberapa daya upaya, saya akan:
taat kepada Tuhan, Raja dan Negara
menolong orang pada setiap masa
menurut undang-undang pengakap
(translated from Malay):
On my honour I promise that I will do my best,
to do my duty to God, King and country
to help others at all times
to obey the Scout laws
Scout Laws
The Scout Laws are (translated from Malay):
A Scout is to be trusted and have self dignity.
A Scout loyal towards the King and other Rajas, towards the Scout Masters, parents, employer and the people under him.
A Scout is to make himself useful and helpful at all times.
A Scout is a friend to all of any States, rank or any other religion.
A Scout is good and kind and will always do good.
A Scout is good and kind to animals.
A Scout always follow his parents',Leaders' orders without any questions.
A Scout is always patient and smile during difficulties.
A Scout is thrifty.
A Scout is clean and pure of thoughts, words and actions.
Scout Sign and Salute
To do the Scout sign, the middle three fingers of the right hand are raised and the thumb covering the little finger, with the upper arm held horizontally and the forearm vertically. The three raised fingers represent the three fundamental parts of the Scout Promise, and the thumb over the little finger represents the strong protecting the weak. The Scout sign is used whenever pledging the Scout Promise.
To do the Scout salute, do the Scout sign and then the middle finger is moved until it touches the right eyebrow.
Badges
The Scout emblem incorporates elements of the coat of arms of Malaysia.
Regardless of which unit one is a member of, one must pass the Keahlian (Tenderfoot) test before being eligible for any other badges. This test examines one on one's qualifications to become a Scout, testing one on the Scout uniform, Scout emblems, Scout oath, Scout laws, Scout salute and sign, the history of Scouting, and basic knot-tying, such as tying a reef knot.
For Pengakap Kanak-Kanak (Cub Scouts), one may receive the Keris Gangsa (Bronze Dagger) badge, Keris Perak (Silver Dagger) badge and Keris Emas (Gold Dagger) badge. The dagger or Keris is a malay dagger used as an official weapon by the royalty. One must attain all preceding badges before qualifying for the next one. Besides that, one may also receive various merit badges throughout the course of receiving the three Keris badges. Once one has achieved the Keris Emas badge with certain merit badges, he or she is entitled with the Rambu Pengakap Kanak-Kanak (Cub Scout Lanyard), which is blue in colour.
For Pengakap Muda (Junior Scout), one may receive the Usaha (Third Class) badge, Maju (Second Class) badge and Jaya (First Class) badge. One must attain all preceding badges before qualifying for the next one. Same as the previous stage, one can also receive a total of eight merit badges; two for hobbies, three for knowledge, and another three for service. Once one has achieved the First Class badge with the eight other merit badges, he or she is entitled with the Rambu Pengakap Muda (Junior Scout Lanyard), which is green in colour.
For Pengakap Remaja (Senior Scout), one may receive Jaya Diri (Independence) badge, Kemahiran (Skills) badge, Kegiatan (Activities) badge, Ekspedisi (Expedition) badge and Perkhidmatan (Service) badge. These badges are often known as the 5 highest rating badges (Lima Lencana Tertinggi) after the King Scout badge, for once a scout had achieved these badges, he or she has indeed achieved all the badges available and is eligible to become a King Scout. Again, once one has received these five badges, he or she is also entitled with the Rambu Pengakap Remaja (Senior Scout Lanyard), which is yellow in colour.
King's Scout badgeOnce one has obtained the Rambu Pengakap Muda and Rambu Pengakap Remaja, one is eligible to become a Pengakap Raja (King's Scout). The qualified candidate will hand in his/her application form to the district commissioner together with his/her logbooks and certs (of all badges received). He/she will be evaluated and made to undergo a Ujian Sikap Pengakap Raja (King Scout Code of Conduct Examination) which consists of five components which are Tanggungjawab (Responsibility), Pengembaraan (Expedition), Perkhidmatan Masyarakat (Community Service), Kegiatan (Activity), and Berdikari (Independence). This evaluation is either done in a camp (three days two nights) organized by the district or state level or done as part of a five-day four-night expedition. Either way, all five components are covered.
Once a candidate passed the Ujian Sikap Pengakap Raja, he/she qualifies for the Pentarafan Pengakap Raja (King Scout Standardization Camp), a three-day two-nights organized by his/her respective Lembaga Pentaraf Negeri(State King Scout Standardizers).
Pentarafan Pengakap Raja involves solo camping and making campcraft (minimum 20 gadgets), pioneering, first aid, foot and stave drills, backwoodsman cooking and handicraft making. Then the Calon Pengakap Raja (King's Scout Candidate) will receive a Rambu Pengakap Raja (Bushman's Thong) which is self-made. Once one has passed, the prestigious Sijil Pengakap Raja (King Scout certificate) which is signed by every king/sultan from all nine states of Malaysia as well as signed and presented personally by the Sultan of the state in which one passed his test, at the palace.
Troop organization
A troop is divided into several patrols, each with its own patrol leader and assistant patrol leader. A committee called the Patrol Leaders Council plans all the troop's activities, with guidance from the troop's Scoutmaster(s). The Patrol Leaders Council consists of all the patrol leaders and their assistants if the council is too small. From the Patrol Leader's Council, Patrol Leaders are elected to become the Troop Leader, Assistant Troop Leader, Secretary, Treasurer and Quartermaster. This committee is called the Court of Honour and is the most exclusive committee in a troop. The posts mentioned are the least a troop can have. Besides the above mentioned posts, other posts such as Discipline Officer, Den warden, Librarian, IT Director, Historian and much more can be added if the need should arise.
A patrol itself, besides its patrol leader and assistant patrol leader, has a secretary for taking down the details of a patrol meeting, has a treasurer for recording the financial matters and has a quartermaster for taking care of the patrol's equipment. During camp, the quartermaster becomes the equipment quartermaster, and a food quartermaster is appointed. The secretary becomes assistant patrol leader if the patrol leader or assistant patrol leader does not show up for a meeting.
Jamborees in Malaysia
Malaysia has held many national jamborees since 1966. Each state takes turn to be the host, and only Perlis and Selangor has yet to host one. The list of the various national jamborees and the years are as follows :
1966 - Penang
1970 - Melaka
1974 - Johor
1978 - Sarawak
1982 - Kelantan
1986 - Pahang
1989 - Perak
1992 - Sabah
1997 - Terengganu
2002 - Kedah
2006 - Negeri Sembilan
2010 - Selangor
In 2008, a jamboree to commemorate 100 years of scouting in Malaysiais expected to take place from May 12 to 18, 2008, and would see the participation of scouts from Malaysia as well as Asia Pacific countries.
The jamboree at Universiti Putra Malaysia, is estimated to cost RM2mil and would cater to about 6,000 participants.
At the jamboree, the movement will also launch the 100 Year Book of Scouting History, stamps, and shillings. The event will also mark the founding of the International Scouts Camp and International Scouts Academy.
Malaysian National Scout Headquarters
The headquarters for the Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia is in Jalan Hang Jebat, 50150 Kuala Lumpur. It is a 4 storey building, with the offices at the 1st floor, with hostels on the 3rd and 4th floor. It is situated near Petaling Street, within walking distance from Pasar Seni, the nearest PUTRA-LRT station. It is open 5 days a week. There is a Scout Shop situated on the ground floor of the building.
The scout HQ serves as a national centre for administration for scout matters. It has a paid staff of 5. Woodbadge and leadership courses are held there too.
International Scouting units in Malaysia
In addition, there are American Boy Scouts in Kuala Lumpur, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of America, which supports units around the world.
Read More..
<
