THE Negri Sembilan Girl Guides’ 85th anniversary celebration in Seremban recently was an occasion to remember for its members as the movement received an RM85,000 boost from the state government for its activities.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who made the announcement during high-tea with some 400 guides, received a standing ovation from the members and expressed hope that the money would be put to good use.
“We are giving you this money because you are doing a fantastic job with the young girls and helping to mould them into better individuals,” he said.
Moulding youths into better people: Mohamad, Raja Salbiah and members of the movement displaying the Girl Guide’s salute during the movement’s 85th anniversary celebration in Seremban. The movement has some 5,400 members in the state.
Mohamad said the fact that the movement was awarded the Olave Award from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts last year showed that its efforts were recognised.
It was the first time that Malaysia had received the prestigious award from the parent body that recognised outstanding service by a group to a community.
“It is my hope that you will continue to carry out activities with the youth as many are not registered with associations or uniformed bodies such as yours,” he said.
Mohamad said the state government had always been supportive of organisations that worked with the young.
He said it was sad that fewer than 40% of youth in the state were members of associations or uniformed bodies. As part of the state’s key performance index, Mohamad has set the target that 90% of all youths should be members of these bodies by 2015.
In efforts to get more youths to spend their time productively, he said the authorities had built 72 futsal courts in the state this year, and another 50 would be built in the first quarter of next year.
“I was so happy to see youths playing futsal when I was driving through Kg Kundor the other day. It was midnight but the court was packed.
“I am certain if there was no futsal court there, the youths would have indulged in Mat Rempit activities in Port Dickson or Seremban and become a nuisance to others,” he said.
He said the state government had also built a RM5mil theatre at the Culture Complex to allow youths to hone their artistic and acting skills.
National Girl Guides Commissioner Datin Zalilah Mohd Taib said the Girl Guides had been promoting the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak since its inception.
“It is heartening to see girls from the various races mingling freely and working as a team. Being members of this movement has also instilled discipline in them,” she said.
Zalilah said the national body was also in good stead and was supposed to have organised an international camp in Seremban this year but this had to be deferred due to the Influenza A(H1N1) outbreak.
She said the movement would also take part in several events next year, including the Asia Pacific regional conference in the Maldives, International Camping in Sri Lanka and the movement’s centenary camp in Britain.
State Girl Guides president Raja Datin Seri Salbiah Tengku Nujumuddin urged parents to encourage their young daughters to join the movement.
“In the past, we had fewer members due to lack of financial support and logistics.
“But, today, we have become a dynamic and progressive movement and will surely be able to impart good knowledge,” she said.
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