By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, July 31: The Sarawak Scouts Council (SSC) and scouting bodies have been urged to organise more camping and leisure programmes during school holidays or weekends at the Matang Scout Camp of Kubah National Park to promote a healthy lifestyle and strengthen family bonding.
Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the State government had entrusted the Scout camp to the SSC.
“It is the government’s intention to upgrade the facilities in Kubah National Park, and this place (Matang Scout Camp) has more or less been committed by the State government to be handed over to the SSC to become a place where they can arrange activities such as jamborees and so on.
“I also believe that this place is very strategic because it is close to the city of Kuching and with the available facilities, scouting bodies can organise camping programmes during school holidays or weekends for the youth and nature enthusiasts,” he told reporters after the flagging-off ceremony of Matang Warrior Trail Run 2022 held at the Matang Scout campsite in Kubah National Park today.
The Scouts Association of Malaysia Sarawak Branch organised the event through strategic collaboration with the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
About 800 participants joined the event which was divided into three categories, namely ’10km: Jungle Trail Competition (Men and Women Open)’, ‘5km: Jungle Trail (13 years and above)’ and ‘1km: Kid Dash (12 years and below)’.
Abdul Karim who is also Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, further said that Sarawak has over 60 national parks throughout the State with about 22 open to the public so far.
“I hope our national parks’ facilities can be upgraded so that apart from being places for visitors to see the beauty of our flora and fauna, they can serve as venues for healthy activities such as camping and so on.
“This will build up the love for environment and spirit of conservation among the population,” he emphasised.
Amongst those present at the event were SSC president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, vice president Dato Jumaat Ibrahim, and MYSED permanent secretary Nancy Jolhi. — DayakDaily
