Majlis Sempena Lawatan Mesra YB Menteri Belia & Sukan ke
IbuPejabat Briged Puteri Malaysia, 15 Jan 2008

Never before has a Cabinet Minister come to our GBM Headquarters.  So when the Minister of Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Azalina Dato’ Othman Said and the accompanying officials from the ministry said they wanted to make a visit, we were at once delighted and honoured, as well as caught in a fluster.

The hardworking minister had been visiting various youth bodies.  We counted ourselves privileged that she should come to ground level and meet us at our office in Pandan Jaya, Cheras.  With an entourage of top ministry officers, like the Director-General of Youth and Sports Department, Dato’ Hj Fathul Razi b Hj Bakri, Hjh Che Zaharah bt Abd Hamid, in charge of Youth Development and Prof Dr Samsudin A. Rahim, Institut Penyelidikan Pembangunan Belia Malaysia, we were able to fratenize closely and discuss what was close to our hearts.  The Registrar of Youth Societies, Dato’ Suroya b Selamat, was not present but his assistant was there and promised to help with anything connected with the Youth Societies Act.

Altogether about 30 ministry officials and GBM members were crowded into our humble headquarters.  We started off with Welcome and Kathryn said a Prayer.  Then I explained about our Organization with a Powerpoint  slideshow and Choy Ying talked about our GB programmes and activities.  In her casual way, Dato’ Azalina  interjected at various points for comment or clarification.  The Minister acknowledged the important role of Girls’ Brigade and our programme for girls and she asked that GB think BIG and reach out to 50,000!  She asked GB to work together with the government, even as the government wants to work with us.  When she heard that GB Malaysia was hosting the International Conference of the GB in 2010, she immediately extended assistance to us.  She also asked for our co-operation to strengthen the Youth Act.  She said we can continue to remain in the ROS (Registrar of Societies) but also to find a way to constitutionalise a GB group with the ROY (Registrar of Youth).

In about 50 minutes the visit was over and off went the minister to another youth group.  We need not have fret over the condition of the office as one officer said, no need to be apologetic for our miniscule office as there were NGOs whose office was the boot of their car!  What was more important was the visit had brought us closer to KBS and to know that they really are concerned for the youth of the country.