By: Dylan Book
In just two weeks our International Service Project contingent will be travelling to Malaysia and Singapore. A big part of any International Service Project (iProj) is doing cultural exchange and bonding with local Scouts. My most cherished memory from iProj 2014 in Mexico was singing “Ging Gang Goolie” with Mexican Rovers at a campfire on the beach.
This blog will provide you with a sneak peek of what Scouting in Malaysia is like including the history, structure and main activities of Malaysian Scouting.
The Malaysian Scouting Association, known as Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia in Malay was founded in 1910 in what was then British Malaya. A single Malaysian Scouter represented the Malaysian Scouting Association at the 1st World Scout Jamboree in London, England in 1920.
There are 4 sections of Scouting in Malaysia:
Pengakap kanak-kanak are 10 -12 years old and roughly equivalent to Scouts Canada’s Cub Scouts
Pengakap Muda are 13 – 16 years old and are similar to the Troop section in Scouts Canada.
Pengakap Remaja are 16 – 18 years old and are like Venturer Scouts in Canada
Pengakap Kelana are 18 – 25 years old, which means it ends one year earlier than Rovers Scouts in Canada.
The Malaysian Scout Association operates at three levels, namely the state, district, and troop that are equivalent to Scouts Canada’s councils, areas, and groups.
Many Malaysian Scout Groups are associated with high schools and function similar to high school clubs. These are contrasted with “open” groups that are not associated with high schools but are instead open to the public.
Pioneering is very popular in Malaysia and one group, the Shiang Yang 219 Open Scout Troop is famous for massive pioneering projects. Check out their work here.
Just like Canadian Scouts, Malaysian Scouts pursue activity and skill badges that lead up to top awards in each section. The King’s Scouts Award is the highest award for the Pengakap Remaja and plays a similar role to the Queen’s Venturer Award in Canada.
This was just a very basic summary of Scouting in Malaysia. Stay tuned to our blog posts, as our contingent shares what they’ve learnt about Scouting during their International Service Project to Malaysia and Singapore at http://pccrovers.com/iproj2015.