His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday morning officiated the 1st ASEAN Rover Moot. The event which coincides with 85 years of scouting in the country and the Centenary celebration of the World Rover Scouts movement, gathered around 350 Rover Scouts between 18 years to 26 years old from ASEAN countries and the Asia Pacific Region. The ceremony was held at the Youth Centre in Bandar Seri Begawan.

 Upon arrival, His Majesty who is the Patron of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association and the Honorary Patron of the World Scouts was welcomed by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, the Minister of Health as the Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; Awang Haji Metusin bin Orang Kaya Sura Haji Tuba, the President of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association; and Haji Awang Badar bin Haji Awang Ali, Chief Commissioner of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association.

 Accompanying His Majesty were His Majesty's sons and sister, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office as the Chief of Scouts of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association,

 His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik;

And Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 The ceremony began with the reading of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat led by Awang Muhammad Najib bin Abdul Hamid, Acting Commissioner of Religious Division, Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association Headquarters.

 The 1st ASEAN Rover Moot 2018 which involves Malaysia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and the host nation carries the theme, 'one ASEAN, One Community In Scouting.'

 The President of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association in his welcoming address touched on the planned implementation of future activities organised by the association at the Asia Pacific, ASEAN and Borneo levels.

 His Majesty then officiated the 1st ASEAN Rover Moot. Organising the ASEAN Rover Moot in the country is the result of consensus among members of the Association and the ASEAN Scouts Regional Cooperation Organisation during a conference in Davao, the Philippines in November last year. The Rover Scout is one of the most important Scouts groups formed by the Founder of the Scouts Movement, Lord Baden Powell at the beginning of 1918, eleven years after the founding of the World Scouts Movement on 1st of August 1907. The motto of the Rover Scouts is "To Serve."

 During the ceremony, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam conferred the Highest Decorations of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Movement to six Scout Leaders from the association. Out of the six, two members of the Scouts Association who gave excellent services and were involved directly in the country's Scouts movement were conferred with the Bintang Rakis, the Second Highest Award of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association. The recipients are Awang Haji Yahya bin Haji Yusof, the Former Commissioner of Training and Haji Awang Damit bin Haji Awang Chuchu, the Second Vice-President of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association.

 The Gold First Class Bintang Jasa Cemerlang was awarded to Haji Awang Badar bin Haji Awang Ali, the Chief Commissioner of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association.

 The Silver Second Class Bintang Jasa Cemerlang was awarded to 3 members of the Scouts Association who gave excellent services in the country's and international scouts movements. The recipients are Awang Haji Othman bin Durani, Tree Planting Project Manager of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association; Awang Haji Mohd Zali bin Haji Arsad, the Chief Executive Officer and Awang Haji Zainuddin bin Haji Jaafar, the Former Secretary General.

 Eleven foreign Scout leaders who also gave excellent services in the friendly relations with the country's Scouts Association received the International Friendship Award of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association.

His Majesty also presented souvenirs to the Heads of the participating contingents. His Majesty then received a Pasambah.

 The participants have been delegated to the four districts and will participate in the central and district level activities. The six day gathering aims to mould the personality and identity of the youth through community activities, foster and strengthen relations and friendship between the country Rover Scouts and their peers from the ASEAN and Asia Pacific Regions. Its other objectives include sharing knowledge and experience besides interacting directly among the Rover Scouts as well as introducing socio-culture of the countries and Brunei Darussalam as a tourist destination.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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