IPOH: Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, today conferred stars, medals, and King Scout certificates of the Perak State Scout Federation Malaysia (PPM) to 278 recipients.
In a ceremony held at the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building, the awards were conferred to 222 scout leaders from all levels, including six international leaders from the Philippines, India, and Thailand, as well as the King Scouts recognition to 56 scouts from Perak who passed the tests with distinction for the years 2021 and 2022.
Leading the list of recipients were the Asia Pacific Regional Committee chairman and the Philippines Boy Scouts national president Dale Bokingo Corvera, and the Bharat Scouts and Guides Additional Chief Commissioner, Shri Mohammed Ali Khalid, who received the Bintang Semangat Rimba Emas (BSR-E).
The BSR-E, the third-highest PPM award, is given to individuals who have rendered exceptionally commendable service to the Scout movement.
Other recipients include the State Committee chairman for education, higher education, youth, and sports, Khairudin Abu Hanipah; State Education director, Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Mahson; Perak State Scouts deputy chief commissioner Khairul Abu Kassim; and two other international individuals.
They received the Bintang Semangat Rimba Perak (BSR-P), the fourth-highest award, given to individuals who have rendered commendable service to the Scout movement.
Another leader in Perak awarded is the Perak State Agricultural Development Corporation (Perak SADC) chief executive officer Datuk Yahanis Yahaya, who received the Bintang Sdri Maharajalela-Emas (BSML), the state's highest Scout award.
The King Scout Certificate, the most valuable certificate in the Scout movement, was awarded to 56 recipients, comprising senior Scouts from 2017 to 2022 who completed the badge scheme in the school Scout movement.
Sultan Nazrin's arrival at the award ceremony was welcomed by the National Scout Chief Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Zin Bidin, and Perak Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, who is also the Perak State Scout Federation president.
Also present were the Perak State Secretary, Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, and the Perak State Scout Council chairman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Zin, in his speech, said that the scout movement is actively promoting and advancing elements of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in its activities to encourage the development of ideas, creativity, and innovation through scientific activities, in line with the development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).
"Indeed, the heritage and history of scouting in Malaysia is a series of true, illustrious, and colourful stories. The story of the Scout movement in Malaysia should be revealed to future generations as a means of developing the nation's human capital," he said.