My first Gilwell Reunion

Believe it or not, although I have received my woodbadge 10 years ago, this was only my first Gilwell Reunion. And I must say the event looks like some kind of a cult but hey, search on the internet and you can see Gilwell Reunion is happening all around the world. The Gilwell Reunion is the gathering of all Woodbadge holders with the aim of renewing worldwide scouting brotherhood. The woodbadge symbolises that the Scout leader is a trained scout leader and who has gone through several phases of training before being accepted into the Gilwell.

In conjunction with the Gilwell Reunion held in Lahad Datu, Sabah on 30th January 2010, a commemorative badge were also issued. I do not have extra but if you're interested, I might be able to get you one (with a price ofcourse!).

26th APR Jam - Mabuhay!

The 26th edition of the Asia Pacific Regional Jamboree was held at Mt. Makiling Scout Reservation, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines from 27th December 2009 to 3rd January 2010. As I speak, the Jamboree is still very much alive. There are about 12,000 Scouts and leaders from more than 20 different countries around the region as well as from as far as UK and America attended the Jamboree. As usual, badge hunting was one of the unofficial agenda and I managed to get a few contingent badges. If you have what I don't have, please, please, please help me. Selamat po!

Sabah IST badge to the 26th APR Scout Jamboree 2009

Just release and still hot! To support the Sabah Scoutleaders serving as International Service Team to the upcoming 26th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree in the Philippines from 27 December 2009 to 3 January 2010, a special badge will be released and will be sold at very limited quantity. If you need one, email to me now before it runs out!!

Sabah JOTA JOTI 2009 badges

This year's World Scout Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) and Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI) was held on the 17 to 18 October 2009. Sabah Scouts joined in the Jamboree by having various stations at its Headquaters at B-P House, Kota Kinabalu, and at schools at S.K. Inanam Dua, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu and at S.K. Pekan Telupid, Telupid. 4 badges were issued out; the Sabah Scout JOTA badge, the Inanam District JOTA JOTI badge, the Telupid District JOTA JOTI badge and the Challenge Award badge. I have a lot of this Inanam District JOTA JOTI badge so if you are interested to swap or buy the badge, just give me a ring!

I'm back

Whew! Time flies really fast when you're super busy. Didn't realise it's more than 8 months since my last posting! So many things had happened I don't know where to start.

Ok, let's start with our favourite past time - Scout badges collecting. I'll focus more on badges that I have directly involved in or badges that I have come across and like it.

First, my district. We had only produce one badge so far this year - our District Patrol Leaders Course 2009 in March. Sorry, sold out but left with just one for trade.

I was also involved in helping the Beaufort District Scouts in their 60th Anniversary camp in December 2008 especially the Indaba and Activity badges. You can actually get these badges from the State HQ.

Then our State King Scout Brotherhood badge where we produce our Miniature badge and Shoulder badge. Sorry, for members only!

The latest badge that I designed and produced is the Cycling Expedition Badge in conjunction with the Scouts Day Celebaration from 1-2 August 2009. Unfortunately the expedition didn't materialised due to low participation response but the badges were made. So this I have heaps for sale. Email me if you need one!

Last but not least, there's one badge that I really like - the first time I saw it I was mesmerised. It's the Telupid District, Sabah badge in conjunction with the goodwill visit by the Scottish Scouts. Keep it up Telupid Scouts!

Johor International Jamboree 2008

The Johor International Jamboree 2008 was finally held on 15-20 November 2008 after it was postponed twice. Because of the postponement, Sabah only managed to send 26 Scouts and Leaders to the Jamboree. Nevertheless, the Sabah Contingent did managed to produce a Contingent badge (Picture attached). Again if you need one, let me know.

From Sabah to Jakarta

Sabah sent a strong 54 contingent member to the 2nd ASEAN Jamboree held from 18-26 October 2008 at Cibubur, Jakarta, Indonesia. About 1,400 Scouts and Leaders from around the ASEAN region attended the Jamboree. To commemorate the Jamboree, the Sabah contingent has produced a Contingent badge (picture attached). The badge is very limited and I only have a couple left so if you are interested to trade let me know.

80 Scouts from JOTA JOTI Camp at Sabah, Malaysia

80 Scouts from around Sabah attended this year's JOTA and JOTI camp at the B-P House, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, The Camp was officiated by the Assistant State Chief Commissioner of Sabah, Mr. Philip Chin and the Camp Warden was Mr. Zainuddin Onon. Beside experiences radio amatuer and chatting on the internet, the Camp was also filled with various scouting activities like backwoods cooking, estimation, pathfinder etc. The Camp started on 17th October 2008 and ended on 19th October, in line with the world JOTA and JOTI from 18-19 October 2008. A commemorative badge was also issued during the Camp. If you need one, let me know.

3rd International Peace Jamboree 2008 Melaka

Sabah was represented by 18 Scouts and Scout Leaders, all from the district of Inanam to the 3rd International Peace Jamboree held from 18 - 24 August 2008 at Bukit Katil, Melaka, Malaysia. Ms. Hudayana Sapri, the ADC for Inanam (Women's Affair) headed the Contingent. About 1000 Scouts attended the Jamboree which included countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait and Indonesia. Overall our boys and girls enjoyed the Jamboree.

Korea - Loving it!

The 12th Korean International Jamboree 2008 at Mt. Sorak was simply superb!! For 8 days (5th - 12th August 2008) it was like a dream for the 17 of us who attended the Jamboree. 12,000 participants from over 20 countries, comparable to a regional Jamboree. What was even more special to us was that we, from the State of Sabah, represented Malaysia as there were no one else from the rest of Malaysia that attended the Jamboree. And even more for me as I was appointed as the Contingent Leader. Would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sabah Scouts Council and the South Gyeunggi Scout Council for the sponsorship and support. Missing Korea already.

The Merlions have landed

We had the honour of receiving a group of 36 Scouts and leaders from Singapore (Toa Payoh District to be exact) lead by Mr. Kumanan (Also a collector that I've known before) who came to visit Sabah from 10 to 16 June 2008 recently. Two receptions was held for them; first at the Sabah Scouts Headquaters at the B-P House in Kota Kinabalu on the 11th June 2008 and second at the Scouts Nature Park in Sandakan on 14 June 2008. In both receptions, besides the singing and dancing and the laughters, a unique badge swapping activity were held where Scouts from Singapore and Sabah, Malaysia swap badges to get a complete set of the Singapore Scout Visit to Sabah Malaysia 2008 badge.

The receptions are part of the long week adventure program where the Singapore Scouts went for snorkeling at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park islands, whitewater rafting at the Kiulu River, Tamparuli, exploring the world reknown Mt. Kinabalu, the Poring Hot Spring and the Desa Tea farm in Ranau, observing the Orang Utans at the Sepiliok Rehabilitation Centre, the Proboscis Monkeys at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary and the POW Memorial both in Sandakan.

Alamak... I am so lame

I realised that it has already been more than 7 months since I write in my blog!! How lame... I guess maybe because major things has happened in my life. The biggest thing is when I quit my job and start my own consulting firm. So that explains it.

Now, it's not that during that 7 months I didn't do any Scouting. It's just that I didn't have time to update my blog. So for today, I'm attaching badges which were recently produced by our district during the 2nd Camboree. Also got a Rover Scout uniform from Taiwan (Thanks to Pau Voon of Penang) and awaiting a Scout uniform from France.

Sabah re-joins 50th World Scout JOTA, 11th JOTI 2007

After a lapse of three years, the Scouts Association of Malaysia Sabah Branch officially rejoins the 50th edition of the Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) and 11th Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI) from 20th to 21st October 2007. About 50 Scouts and leaders camped at the Sabah Scout B.P. House starting from 19th October 2007. The Sabah Scouts used the nickname beginning mysakk which represent my=Malaysa, sa=Sabah and KK=Kota Kinabalu while for JOTA, the call sign was 9M4CBP. I used mysakk1.

In conjunction with the JOTA and JOTI, participant badges were produced (See image above). There are two different issues; a bigger souvenir version measuring 7cm x 9 cm (extremely limited, only 10 pieces were made) and the smaller official version measuring 5cm x 7cm. This is the sixth issue of the Sabah JOTA JOTI badge. Previous issues can be viewed at http://www.sabah.org.my/ppmsabah/jotibadges/jotibadges.html. If you need one, let me know. Happy JOTA and JOTI!

50 years and going strong!

Today, 31st August 2007 is the 50th years of our country's independence. It is also the 10th year that we had the Merdeka Kem or Independence Camp. About 300 Scouts and leaders participated in the camp which was held since 26th August 2007 until today at the State Scout Headquaters at the B.P. House. Out of the 300, 180 were part of the Scout Contingent marchers for the Independence Parade. Since 2007 is also a big year for all of us Scouts, badges were produced to commemorate the double celebration (image above). Happy 50th Independence Malaysia and Happy Centenary of Scouting!!

Happy Scouting's Sunrise!

We in Sabah were very fortunate as the National Level Scouting's Sunrise program was held here at our State from 30th July to 1st August 2007. It was held at Mt. Kinabalu Park, the highest mountain in South East Asia and also a World Heritage Site. 38 Scouts and leaders from all over Malaysia and outside scaled Mt. Kinabalu's peak, which stands 4,095m a.s.l, on the 1st August 2007 and wave the Scout flag at about 6.00am, marking the dawn of a new century for Scouts around the world. For Malaysians, 2007 is an extra special year as Malaysia will also celebrate its 50 years of nationhood. Commemorative badges were issued to celebrate the double celebration (See picture). Currently I do not have extras but will try to get some.

Our fundraiser badge has been robbed!

Thanks to a friend of mine, I recently found out that our Inanam District Scout Council 2007 Fundraiser badge has been sold at ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Boy-Scouts-Patch-CSP-Malaysia-Council-2007-Inanam-Blue_W0QQitemZ130134353271QQihZ003QQcategoryZ103977QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Boy-Scouts-Patch-CSP-Malaysia-Council-2007-Inanam-Black_W0QQitemZ130134353352QQihZ003QQcategoryZ103977QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

The badges numbered 1 and 70 are definitely fakes as these badges are still in our possession. Also everyone knows that the purchase of these badges comes together with a Certificate of Authenticity from our District Scout Council. Furthermore our Council never issued a black bordered badge. Oh yes, the badges are also smaller.

I did not really think our badges too has become a victim (which somehow actually indicate some value in our badge!) and would like to make a plea to all of you to investigate the background of the seller w-patchauctions-c. My guess is that all the badges that this person is selling are fakes. Correct me if I'm wrong but if I'm right how do we actually stop this person from racking in a few hundred bucks?

Your kind effort is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Sabah First Rover Camp 2007

No excuse, just being lame. Should have put these badges out ages ago. These badges were issued during our State first Rover Camp from 25-31 May 2007. About 250 Rover from around the State including Labuan F.T and Brunei Darussalam attended the camp. In line with the Rover's motto "Service", most of the activities concentrated on Community Projects which include building public toilets at Karambunai village, Kota Kinabalu and painting mural at the local primary school, building vegetable stalls at Kolombong, Kota Kinabalu, and repainting B-P House. Other activities include community sports, community talks, abseiling, indaba and Cultural shows. I have a few of these badges left so if you are interested, give me a shout.

Two new released badges from the Inanam District Scout Training Team

Two new badges were released by the Inanam District Scout Training Team in March 2007; One is for the Patrol Leaders Course which was held 9-11 March 2007 and the other is the upcoming Woodbadge Leader Training Induction course which is going to be held this 25th March 2007. About 118 Scouts attended the Patrol Leaders course so much so that a second order of 60 pieces of the badges had to be made. The first order was only 100 pieces. For the Woodbadge Induction course, about 50 new Scout leaders and Rovers are expected to attend and only 75 pieces of the Woodbadge Induction Course has been ordered.

Korea Gyeunggi Council Scouts made 2nd visit to Kota Kinabalu

A group of 34 Korean Scouts, 8 leaders and 26 boys and girls scouts, from the Gyeunggi Council came to Kota Kinabalu (KK) for a second goodwill visit from 6th - 10th January 2007. They came last year from 14th - 18th January and heard that they will be coming for a third goodwill visit next year.

As in last year, one of the program during their stay in KK was the homestay program where the Korean Scouts stayed with local families. As in last year too, my family and I took part in the program but unlike last year where we fostered 2 teenage boys, this time we fostered only 1 teenage girl, Kim Yeong Jun.

In conjuntion with the event, scarfs have been made as in the last year but this time badges were also made. I have an extra scarf if you are interested but not the badge. Let me know.


Kamsahamidah!

Inanam District Scout Council 2007 badge

In conjunction with the centenary celebration of Scouts worldwide as well as 50 years of our Nationhood (50 years of Independence), our district Scout council (Inanam District, Sabah, Malaysia) will be issuing a limited edition Inanam District Scout Council 2007 badge to commemorate both the historical events. It is also part of a fund raising project for the district. The badge will be released on this year's Scouts Founders Day 22 February 2007, also a historical event marking 150 years since the birth of B-P, and will be sold at USD$15 each including registered postage to around the world. Each badge will also be individually numbered 1-100 and will be accompanied by a Certificate.

If you are interested to own one and better still help us raise some funds, please indicate your order to me at tariqaripen @gmail.com

I look forward to a favourable response.
YiS

Tariq