Despite having resigned from all appointments in the scouting world – the last one being State’s Assistant Chief Scout Commissioner (IT and Media) – I am still very much a scouter at heart.
And having been active as a scout leader since 1979, I have made many friends in scouting, including those holding high posts therein. So when I called it a day as an active leader some months ago, I had to come to terms with leaving a good number of friends there. Among them are the two Deputy Chief Scout Commissioners namely Haji Said Haji Bolhassan whom I used to refer as ‘brader’ and Captain Zainuddin Tan Sri Datuk Amar Hamdan Sirat (Captain Zai) – we address each other as ‘madi’ (Iban word for brother). Said, 76, a four-bead woodbadge holder, my friend since 1979, is also the State branch of Malaysian Scouting Association’s Executive Secretary who oversees the headquarters management and operation. In Sri Aman during a three-day scouting course many years ago while shopping at the ‘Tamu’ we called him ‘Datuk’ as he dressed and looked like one – he later belanja us at a coffee shop nearby.
But it is his much younger counterpart Captain Zai, a pilot by training, who recently got the nod to helm the state scouting fraternity as the new Sarawak State Chief Scout Commissioner (Ketua Pesuruhjaya Pengakap Negeri Sarawak). His appointment signed by Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the National Scout Council Dato’ Raja Ruslan bin Raja Samah was effective from 19 March this year through to 31 Dec 2019. The letter says he was directed to write it (appointment letter) after the National Chief Scout (Ketua Pengakap Negara) Tan
Sri Dato’ Seri Paduka Dr.Haji Shafie bin Haji Mohd Salleh had discussed and agreed with the National Chief Scout Commissioner Major
General Professor Dr. Haji Mohd Zin bin Bidin that Captain Zainuddin was to be appointed to the post. It says the appointment is based on the absolute power of Tan Sri Ketua Pengakap Negara in line with Parliament Act No. 784 (1968) 2016 Amendment.
Capt Zai replaces Sudaryo Osman who two years earlier took over the reign from my late cousin Dunstan Melling Undau who died in a car crash while on a scouting duty to Saratok in May, 2012.
A councillor with Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Zai is active in a number of bodies. He is the president of the Malaysian Amateur Radio League (MARL) whereby recently he chaired the 4th Biennial General Meeting (Mesyuarat Agung Dwi-Tahunan ke-4) of MARL in Kuala Lumpur. He is also a committee member of the National Disaster Council of Malaysia (NADMA). Their most recent meeting was on 14 March this year in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur where Zai was also in attendance.
Another plus factor for this handsome and active scout leader is his close association with people in high offices, especially with the President of the Sarawak Scout Council Tan Sri Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom himself. He is open-minded, willing to learn, approachable and apart from being an amiable character Captain Zai has a good connection with the police department, thanks to having a brother who heads the management section of the state’s police and of course for being the son of a former state police commissioner (CP).
His main plan is to upgrade the quality of scouting leadership in the state, including updating them with scouting matters in the new millenium. Though the BP (Lord Baden Powell) spirit lives on as it used to be, there are some new inputs for the scouters to lead their charges into the 21st Century.
These changes encompass issues pertaining to the world of IT, the Internet and related gadgets as well as new innovations in backswood cooking and camping.
“Scouting must move on and leaders must at all times do their best to upgrade themselves with the latest developments in IT and its related gadgets plus other matters. They must get themselves abreast with items that relate to their scouting world, especially involving survival skills as well as skills needed in camping, excursions and others.
“As scouting is about our own simple survival and simple daily life, we must be equipped with living skills needed for our daily life. For example, kids must learn how to cook, how to handle utensils, knives and other tools. Wherever possible, learn how to handle an axe,” Zai pointed out when speaking to New Sarawak Tribune recently.
It is not too late to extend my heartful appreciation to my good buddy. I wish him well in his undertaking as the new State Chief Scout Commissioner.
“Please come back to be an active leader madi; we can arrange for a state appointment for you,” he said after receiving his letter from KL.
“Thank you madi,” I said without stating ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Nevertheless, I am still a member of the world’s scouting body Gilwell Union for being a woodbadge holder and he knows
very well I am always ready to help. I still concur with the saying ‘once a scout always remains a scout’.
