Once a scout, always a scout

The World Scout Emblem

The Malaysia Scout Emblem

In his original book on scouting, Baden Powell introduced the Scout Promise, as follows:

"Before he becomes a scout, a boy must take the oath, thus:

On my honour, I promise that ...

1. I will do my duty to God and the King
2. I will do my best to help others, whatever it costs me
3. I know the scout law, and will obey it

The Malaysian 10 Scout Law:

1. A Scout is to be trusted and has self dignity.
2. A Scout is loyal towards the King and other Rajas, towards the Scout Masters, parents, employers and those below him.
3. A Scout is to make himself useful and helpful at all times.
4. A Scout is a friend to scouts around the world and the people around him/her.
5. A Scout is good and kind and will always do good.
6. A Scout is good and kind to animals.
7. A Scout always follow his parents' and Scout Masters' orders without question.
8. A Scout is always patient and smiles during difficulties.
9. A Scout is thrifty.
10. A Scout is pure of thought, word and action.

The Malaysian Scout Promise:

On my honour I promise that I will do my best,
to do my duty to God, King and country
to help others at all times
to obey the Scout laws

I was introduced to the world of scout movement by Sudaryo Hj Osman. The King-Scout achiever of the Thomian himself. I learned a lot in scouts. Yes, I'm a naive boy when I was 12. Signed up for the scouts changed me. After all, I was in the 1st Kuching Scout Group, the legendary scout movement in Sarawak. The best of all in Kuching !!!

I still remember I took the oath as a scout. An oath to be a scout forever. To obey the scout laws. To uphold the scout promise. Yes, I was led by Mohd Samat, Ahmad Iskandar, Bryan Ng, Paul Dylan, Garrick Yeo, and Vestly. They are my seniors. They taught me well, expecially Sudaryo & Vestly. The other seniors, well, they became my trusted friends till now.

For my batch, I got Samuel (the big head), Ian, Reuben, Jerome, Chai, Saiful, Farid, Samuel Hoh, Nackulen, and others (can't remember). Well, we became good friends until now. However, I've lost contact with all of them. Yeah, everyone's have grown up and took their own paths. These are my squad in scout. The very first squad I knew in my life before I joined the military.

Actually, scouts and soldiers are not so much different. They are the same as the founding father Baden Powell is an officer in the military. The different is that scout does not carry guns and rifles. He applied the army life in scouts with few adaptations for boys. Fun with knowledge.

The foot drill, the camping, the expedition, the cooking, the knots, all I had the first hands-on experiences with scouts. I love it. The starting point of my life. The mix of multiracial in scouting taught me well to respect others. I first learned to lead when I was in the scout. That time, I was nervous and still learning. I never be a leader before. I prefer to be a follower. But, as my scout masters said, you won't know your own potential if you never try it. So, I give myself a try, and until now, I'm still improving my leadership skills. I want to lead people. I wish to be a good scout by lead with good examples and deeds.

The oath that I took 8 years ago still have not change. I wish to help others in my own way. I would never let people down. That's my promise. A promise that I shall live up to.

This is the Boys Scout !!!

Once a Scout, always a Scout !