Abdul Karim sounds a ceremonial siren to mark the closing of the Scouts Marine Education Camp.
MIRI (June 29): The Scout Movement continues to play a vital role in nurturing leadership, volunteerism and community service despite rapid technological advancement, said Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said the movement’s founding mission of encouraging young people to serve society remains as relevant today as ever, both in Malaysia and around the world.
“We want our youths to possess strength of character, a spirit of volunteerism and the willingness to help the community regardless of race, religion or nationality,” he said at the closing ceremony of the Scouts Marine Education Camp at Piasau Boat Club here yesterday.
Abdul Karim noted that as societies become more developed, participation in volunteer organisations has gradually declined, with many people relying increasingly on government agencies during emergencies.
“That is why organisations such as the Scouts, St John Ambulance, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade and Girl Guides remain important because they cultivate volunteerism and encourage young people to help those in need,” he said.
He also expressed concern over children’s growing dependence on digital devices, saying excessive screen time has reduced face-to-face interaction among the younger generation.
“Many children today communicate with the outside world through their mobile phones and gadgets,” he said.
“Genuine human-to-human communication is becoming less common, and this is something that we should all be concerned about.
“Activities such as Scout camps and jamborees bring young people together, strengthen friendships and foster teamwork and mutual understanding,” he added.
Abdul Karim commended the Scouts Association of Malaysia and the Sarawak Scouts for organising the marine education camp, which brought together Scout contingents from Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The event also witnessed the symbolic launch of Miri’s first Children Sea Scout Unit, which he hoped would pave the way for more collaborative initiatives.
“We should continue organising more jamborees, camps and exchange programmes during school holidays or weekends because they provide tremendous benefits to youth development,” he said.
The minister also assured that the Sarawak government, through his ministry, would continue supporting meaningful youth initiatives.
He encouraged organisers to make full use of state-owned youth facilities, including those in Sibu and Kem Belia Pueh, for future camps and leadership programmes.
“If you have good programmes that contribute towards developing capable, responsible and community-minded young people, my ministry is always ready to assist,” he said.
“Equally important is having committed volunteers who are willing to organise these activities because funding alone is not enough without dedicated people,” he added.
To support future Scouting activities, Abdul Karim announced an allocation of RM50,000 from his ministry to the organisers for programmes promoting youth leadership, volunteerism and character development.
Also present were Malaysian Scout Council vice-president Dato Mohamad Safri Abdillah; Scout Association of Malaysia, Sarawak Branch chief commissioner John Lim Boon Meng; Scouts Association of Brunei Darussalam president Murad Abdul Hadi; a political secretary to the Sarawak Premier, Sarkawi Suhaili; and West Kalimantan Regional Scout Council’s head of delegation Ade Zulkarnaen.
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