Work on strengthening youth devt, curbing social ills, Premier tells scouts

KUCHING (Jan 19): The scout movement should work closely with local communities to strengthen youth development and curb rising social problems among young people, said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Premier said such initiative is timely in addressing growing concerns over negative social behaviour, moral decline, bullying, and other disciplinary issues involving teenagers.

“Such challenges require collective responsibility from all segments of society to ensure that young people are guided, protected and empowered to build a positive future for themselves, their families and their communities.

“The scout movement is a highly effective and relevant platform to prevent and address these social threats. It is not merely a co-curricular activity, but a proven system of character building and leadership development,” he said.

He said this in a speech delivered by Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom at the launch of the establishment of Community-Based Scout Troops and Friends of Scouting in Bintulu on Saturday.

Recalling his own experience as a scout during his school days at St Thomas School in the 1960s, Abang Johari noted that the Sarawak scout movement, now 113 years old, has demonstrated its ability to adapt to changing times while remaining relevant in shaping youth values and leadership.

He described community-based scouting as a promising alternative approach to guide teenagers away from social ills while strengthening their connection with local communities, and commended the Sarawak Scouts for their commitment in expanding the movement’s role beyond schools through the establishment of community-based scout troops.

The Premier also reiterated that the Sarawak government has consistently supported scouting programmes, which align with the state’s aspiration to produce disciplined, competitive and integrity-driven youth with strong leadership qualities.

He said the structured educational approach of the scout movement—which emphasises leadership, life skills, vocational exposure and community service—plays a vital role in nurturing balanced individuals physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Abang Johari also urged parents to encourage their children to join the scout movement, saying it offers valuable exposure, builds self-confidence, and provides an ideal platform for nurturing credible and responsible future leaders.

To ensure the success and sustainability of the newly introduced community-based scouting concept, he announced a contribution to the Sarawak Scouts Council to support the programme’s implementation in a more active and systematic manner.

He further called on corporate organisations, the plantation sector and other related parties to support Community-Based Scout Troops through sponsorships, provision of facilities, or venues for meetings and training activities, noting that such partnerships would ensure the long-term sustainability of the programme.

At the same time, Abang Johari reminded scouts to give back to their communities through active community service as a mark of appreciation and social responsibility.

He also urged community leaders to extend full cooperation to the scout movement, expressing confidence that scouts can serve as effective grassroots agents in addressing social challenges among youth.

Meanwhile, National Chief Scout Maj Gen (Rtd) Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Zin Bidin expressed his confidence that community-based scouting would be another pragmatic approach that the Scouts of Malaysia should adopt in order to increase its membership further from the present of about 700,000.

He opined that the setting up of the World Scout Bureau in Kuala Lumpur shows that the World Organisation of Scout Movement has confidence in the Scout Movement of Malaysia in the leadership of scouting.

He said several top leaders of the Scout Movement in Malaysia have been tasked to lead several Asia Pacific regional committees.

“The community-based scouting represents an important shift in the nation’s scouting movement.

“For Sarawak, this approach is timely given its vast geographical area and diverse communities for more youths—regardless of educational background or location—to join scouting and enjoy the benefits of character development, discipline, and leadership,” he said.

Sarawak Scout Council president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, who also spoke, said Sarawak was honoured to be chosen as the first state in Malaysia to pioneer the launch of Community-Based Scout Troops and the Friends of Scouting Programme, an initiative proposed several years ago by Mohd Zin.

He said the programme aims to expand scouting beyond schools by actively involving local communities, making the movement more inclusive and accessible.

“This approach has great potential to empower and further expand the scout movement, particularly in Sarawak, by bringing scouting closer to society at large,” he said, while calling on the entire scouting fraternity to embrace and promote the initiative despite the need for careful and gradual implementation.

Also present at the ceremony were Infrastructure and Port Development Deputy Minister Datuk Majang Renggi, Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang, Jepak assemblyman Iskandar Turkee, National Scout Council vice presidents Datuk Mohamad Safri Abdillah and Datuk Zamani Tambicheck, Sarawak Scout Council vice president Jumaat Ibrahim, Sarawak chief scout commissioner John Lim, Bintulu Resident Datu Nyurak Keti, and BBC Group of Companies executive chairman Datuk Barry Yek.