thesundaypost

Sea Scouts to the fore

November 19, 2017, Sunday Zaheera Johari, reporters@theborneopost.com

The 8 kilometre walking expedition.

HEAD of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud paved the way for the transformation of
scouting in Miri when he announced the Division could become the Sea Scout Town of Sarawak
at the launching of the 4th Seaboree and Sea Scout Assembly at Marina Bay in 2015.

Taib had noted Miris potential to further develop and promote especially the Sea Scouts and their
activities in the state, including, shipping (Miri is a yacht training centre) and simulator training
for both deck and engine at the Sealestial Marine Seafarer Training Centre in Miri.

Moreover, several other maritime training centres are located in Miri such as Pelita Maritime
Academy, Seamaster Training Centre, Borneo Safety Training Services Sdn Bhd, Sri Bima
Maritime Training Center and IGC Training Centre.

This year, the Young Scout Badge Camping Scheme and the International Jamboree on The Air
(JOTA) were the first scout programmes to be held in the Northern Region Miri, Bintulu,
Limbang and Lawas under the leadership of the Sarawak Scout Academy (APS) manager (North)
Empari Hong.

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The Young Scout Badge Camping Scheme, from Oct 19 to 22 at the Teachers Training Institute
(IPG) Miri, was declared open by Pemanca Abang Mohamed Abang Othman, representing
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

The event was jointly organised by Miri District Education Office, IPG, Sarawak Scout Academy
(North) and Malaysia Scout Federation, Miri branch, with financial assistance from Miri District
Scout Council. The National Marine Scout Secretariat also assisted.

Forty-seven Sea Scouts and Scouts from SM Sains Miri, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK)
Luak, SMK Riam, SMK Baru, SMK Miri, SMK Merbau, SMK Taman Tunku, SMK Dato
Permaisuri and SMK Kidurong, Bintulu, took part in the camp.

Scouts taking part in commando training.

First step

Camp vice secretary and Sekolah Menengah (SM) Sains Miri Sea Scouts advisor Qaisarah
Abdullah said this was the first step in Sea Scouts development in the north, adding that with this
initiative, APS North hoped to produce Scout King (Sea) recipients by 2022.

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The Scout King (Sea) is a globally recognised award, and to meet the criteria for attaining it, the
scouts need to get the Young Scout Cord (Anugerah Rambu Pengakap Muda) in the first three
years, then the Teen Scout Cord two years later before taking the Scout King Attitude Test (Sea)
to qualify for the Scout King (Sea) Award.

Meanwhile, the one-day JOTA International activity drew 262 Sea Scouts, Scouts and Girl Guides
from seven secondary and 10 primary schools in Miri District.

Using very high frequency amateur radio, the participants were able to communicate with their
counterparts from around the world via the International JOTA programme with the help of 11
Sarawak Amateur Radio Emergency Service (SARES) members, led by Nazari Morsidi.

Apart from attending briefings, the participants were introduced to the Semaphore (alphabet
signalling) flag system, based on the waving of a pair of hand-held flags in a particular pattern.
The flags are usually square, red and yellow, divided diagonally with the red portion in the upper
hoist.

The Scouts and Girl Guides also learned to communicate at sea (using the Semaphore flag), install
tents and communication barriers, do jungle cooking, make handicrafts (plaster cast and
wickerwork) and participate in the eight-kilometre walking adventure and a cultural night.

Camping chief Mohammad Nasir Sopin said through this programme, the scouts were not only
exposed to a new environment but also had the opportunity to build up self-confidence and
fortitude, as set out in the Scouts Ten Commandments Act, and also acquire various scouting
skills.

Scouts are also taught correct floatation techniques.

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Major role

Malaysia Marine Department, Sarawak Region, East Sarawak Area, Miri, played a major role in
the success of the camp where programmes for water safety, basic boat and engine handling as
well as sea communication signals, bonds and knots were organised.

The participants were also exposed to the Colours and Sunset ceremonies which were implemented
in government agencies such as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), and the
Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM), and aboard merchant vessels as well.

The badges for the camping programme comprised the Effort Badge, Boatman Badge, Music
Badge, Marine Exploration Badge and International JOTA Kit.

Scouting is defined as a voluntary, independent movement, free from politics to train the younger
generation and is open to all, regardless of race and religious beliefs, in accordance with the
principles and methods, inspired by its founder Lord Robert Stephenson Symth Baden Powell.

Qaisarah hoped the camp would spark greater interest among Scouts and Guides in organising
outdoor activities such as camping, physical fitness exercise, open air cooking and travelling.

They can also develop their speaking skills and serve the community, he added.

Just like Baden Powell once said: A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching
in the meeting room.

Sea Scouts are a branch of the Scout Movement in Malaysia placing particular emphasis on boating
and water-based activities which can be carried out at sea, in the rivers or lakes, enabling Sea
Scouts to sail, cruise in boats, learn navigation, work on engines and compete in regattas.

Sea Scouts have existed for a long time in the country and been actively involved in the celebration
of independence since in August 1957. With Malaysias geographical location, surrounded by seas,
and the availability of maritime facilities in the country, various marine activities and events can
be organised for Sea Scouts.

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Busu Nyayow from Miri Marine Department showing the scouts how to read the Nautical Chart.

Brief history

Lord Baden Powell was born into a family intensely involved in marine activities. He became very
close to his maternal grandfather, Admiral William Smyth, after the death of his father when he
was three years old.

His grandfather began his career as a naval engineer and succeeded in becoming an admiral in
1863.

Baden Powells brother, Warington, who was 10 years older, began his career as a merchant
marine. Warington was the founder of a canoe cruise and wrote a book titled Canoe Traveling:
and practical hints on building and fitting canoes.

He had his training on board HMS Conway for three years before joining Hotspur in 1864.

Warington joined HMS Conway (a former naval vessel permanently docked and used as a training
ground) in 1861 when he was 14 years old.

Around 1872, Baden Powell and his brother made an expedition to explore the United Kingdom
in a canoe on the Thames. On reaching Wales, they pitched camp and cooked with a fire pit.

In 1873, Warington changed his job to law and was accepted into King Counsel where he began
designing and constructing his yacht christened Diamond.

There were many reasons why Baden Powell held the first scouting camp on Brownsea Island, the
main one being that Brownsea Island allowed the participants to take a boat and travel out to sea.

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 The scouts after completing the four-day camp.

Earliest badge

In 1908, the Seaman Badge was one of the earliest among the five advanced badges to be issued
to scouts and Baden Powell often emphasised A scout should be able to manage a boat, to bring
it properly alongside a ship or pier.

In December 1908, the first Seamanship Badge was issued as one of the first Efficiency badges
and a camp for scouts was held at Bucklers Hard, Hampshire in August 1909 where the focus was
on boating activities.

In 1911, Baden Powell wrote a booklet on Sea Scouting for Boys, followed a year later by
Waringtons Sea Scouting and Seamanship for Boys with a foreword by Baden Powell.

A special uniform for Sea Scouts was approved in 1910 andin 1912, the name Sea Scout was
officially adopted within Baden Powells Boy Scouts Association. Subsequently, Sea Scouting
found its way to the rest of the world.