Girl Guides celebrate 100 years
Queen attends last event as association’s royal patron
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a celebration befitting a centennial event, complete with the appearance of a popular heartthrob who captured the attention of hundreds of Girl Guides.
Song and dance performances showcasing talented Girl Guides and Permata Seni Tari kept the audience glued to their seats, but actor Fattah Amin stole the limelight when he appeared on stage.
The celebration was to mark the 100th anniversary of the Girl Guides Association in Malaysia.
It was also the last event attended by its royal patron, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Haminah Hamidun, who has ended her five-year patronage with the association.
Her Royal Highness congratulated the association for its achievements over the century.
“A lot has been done by the association at many levels inside and outside of the country,” she said in her speech at a royal luncheon at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
Tuanku Haminah called on members of the Girl Guides to embark on a paradigm shift in efforts to showcase a modern image for the association.
“Times have changed and leaders should not stick to traditional ways to convey knowledge and skill.
“Leaders must act as facilitators to encourage members to use a higher level of thinking skills to help make decisions and solve problems,” she added.
Association president Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor thanked the Raja Permaisuri Agong for gracing the event.
“Although this is the last meeting between Her Royal Highness and the Girl Guides, I hope Her Royal Highness would not forget the moments that we’ve shared.
“Indeed, all Your Royal Highness’ contributions are embedded in the lines of history and shall be remembered for the next 100 years.
“I hope the bond between Your Royal Highness and the association will not end here and shall be in our hearts forever, God willing,” Rosmah said in her speech.
The event also saw Tuanku Haminah launching the 100 Years Girl Guides First Day Cover to mark the celebration.
Association deputy president Raja Puan Besar Perak Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah and four others were also honoured with the Asia Pacific Region Appreciation Awards.
The other four recipients are Girl Guides Association Malaysia chief commissioner Normala Baharudin, former chief commissioners Datuk Nik Faizah Nik Mustapha and Fatimah Mohamad, and Girl Guides Kuala Lumpur president Datuk Yeoh Su Keng.