KANGAR: Scouts honour their sterling brethren with medals and stars, but brows furrowed when the Perlis scouts body named one of their top medals “Dato’ Setia Pengakap”.
In Perak and Penang, it is a prestigious honour to be awarded medals like “Bintang Seri Maharaja Lela” (Perak) or “Bintang Bakti Sakti Mutiara” (Penang). These medals are given to senior and outstanding scouts who reach high public office or go beyond the call of their social duty.
But “conferring” a medal such as “Dato’ Setia Pengakap” in Perlis, which implies the title “Dato’”, might be taking it a little too far.
The “conferment” ceremony took place on March 6, and after a stern reaction from the Malaysian Scouts Federation (PPM) against Persekutuan Pengakap Perlis, all photographs and information on the event have been scrubbed off the Internet.
How many senior scouts in Perlis were awarded the “Dato’ Setia Pengakap” award is unknown.
National Chief Scout Major-Jeneral (R) Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Zin Bidin said a letter was sent to the Perlis scout commissioner informing him that he had been suspended over the issue.
“The matter has been brought to the attention of the Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia (PPM) investigations board,” he said.
After the awards ceremony on March 6, senior scouts who received the “Dato’ Setia Pengakap” began to be addressed as “Dato’”, which raised questions.
In an earlier statement, PPM stressed that Perlis PPM was never mandated with powers to confer any award or medal that came with public titles.
The national scouting body stressed that action could be taken against individuals who give and receive such awards under Section 13 of the Scouts Association of Malaysia (Incorporation) Act 1974 with a fine not exceeding RM500 and/or jail not exceeding a month.
