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SOME 370 students took part in a mass enrolment ceremony by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Island Chapter, which was held at the Penang Free School (PFS). The annual ceremony was organised for Form One students who have registered to be MRCS members in their respective schools at the beginning of the semester.

Organised by the youth unit led by organising chairman Lim Win Sern, 17, from Penang Free School, the event saw the enrolment of students from 11 schools namely PFS, Convent Datuk Keramat, Methodist Girls’ School, Convent Green Lane, Saint Xavier’s Institution, St George’s Girls School, SMK Hamid Khan, Hutching School, Convent Light Street, SMK Bukit Gambier and SMK Tanjung Bungah.

After the students had taken their oath as new members, they were briefed on conduct as part of the international organisation.

“Many times, people misconceive that the Red Crescent only does first aid. Actually, we also carry out other activities such as camping, marching, and social visits,” said MRCS officer-in-charge of youth Daniel Lim in his speech to the members at the school hall. “As members, we are encouraged to carry out first aid for those in need. The more we perform, the more we can sharpen up our skills,” he added.

Also present at the event was the chairman of the MRCS Island Chapter, Nancy Cheah. In her speech, she welcomed the new members into the society.

Youth Units in Penang Branch had an active 2010. The Youths took part in MRC events within the State as well as events outside the State.

On March 14, the MRC Penang Youth Leadership Forum 2010 was organised at the Branch Office. This dialogue session, between the MRC Branch and Chapter officers with the School Unit Youth Officers or their representatives, was attended by 160 members and officers. This programme helped to structure the MRC Operation Procedures for the school units and was an open discussion for youth co-curriculum matters.

Several Youth Proficiency Badges Courses were held to enable the Youth members to attend and obtain proficiency in various subject matters.

In May, the SPS Chapter organised a ceremony to present Warrants of Appointment to the Youth and Link Officers.  This ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Director of the State Education Department and witnessed by the officers of the SPS District Education Office, as well as MRC Officers. The SPS Chapter conducted a fast track learning course on basic first aid skills for the teachers present.

The SPU Chapter organised a Youth Foot Drill Competition on June 12.  SMK Bagan Jaya emerged as Champions for the Form 3 Category, while SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth and SMK St Mark were First and Second Runner-ups respectively. For the Form 5 Category, SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth came out tops, followed by runner-ups SMK Bagan Jaya and SMK St
Mark.

A Youth Leadership and Fire Precaution Course was held on December 18 at Kampong Valdor, Seberang Perai Selatan for 170 members from various school units. This course presented an insight into fire regulations and general fire precautions. The course covered the role of youth leaders, the role of first responders during emergency, action on discovering a fire, causes of fire, fire safety precautions, how to use fire extinguishers, liaison with the fire service, fire safety legislation, common causes of fire, fire drills and evacuation. The course was conducted by the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Jabatan BOMBA & Penyelamat Malaysia).

At the end of the year, the Youths had a BBQ Countdown Gathering hosted by the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) Chapter. A total of 40 members attended the countdown gathering to usher in the New Year 2011. The event enabled members and officers to meet informally and network with each other.

Foot Drill Competitions were organised throughout the year by the District Education Office. For the SPS Formation Foot Drill Competition for Secondary Schools Uniform Bodies, MRC Youth Units from SMK Agama Nibong Tebal and SMK Bandar Tasek Mutiara were selected. This event organised by the District Education Office of SPS on May 8, was held at SMK Agama Nibong Tebal.

The State Level Formation Foot Drill Competition for Primary Schools Uniform Bodies organised by the Penang State Education Department was held on May 15. SJKC Keow Kuang Bukit Mertajam Link Unit won the 2nd Runner up placing. The contingent was trained by OC Link Mdm Ooi Hwei Ching. They were also the Champion in the past Foot Drill Competitions at the Central District Seberang Perai.

From June 18 – 20, the Penang State Education Department selected MRC Link units, SJKC Keow Kuang (2 members) and SK Stowell (3 members) to participate in the State level Primary Schools Uniform Bodies Training Camp at SMK Agama Nibong Tebal. The same group of participants were sent to the National Primary School Uniform Bodies Camp at Kem Bina Semangat, Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Bahru, Selangor from June 20 – 25.

The International Friendship Jamboree 2010 was held from June 25 – 30. This international camp was held at Pusat Kokurikulum Pulau Pinang and hosted by the Ministry of Education Malaysia for the invited NGO uniform bodies (Scouts, Girl Guides, Puteri Islam, MRC and SJAM). Participants including foreigners totalled more than 1,200. The Penang State Education Department selected 7 MRC Youth Units from SMK Seberang Jaya, SMK Pokok Sena, SMK Bukit Jambul, SMK Balik Pulau, SMK Air Itam, SMK Valdor and SMA Almashoor Perempuan. MRC Youth Officer, Ms. Foo Lily, was appointed as Team Manager of the Penang State contingent. The State Education Department also invited MRC Penang to chair the Working Committee of Health and Emergency. 110 members led by Mr. Lim Kuo Shee were on rotating shifts to support the 24-hour Ambulance Service & First Aid Standby duty that covers the Campsite and Georgetown Heritage Trail.

At the Merdeka National Day Parade 2010 held on August 31, the Island Chapter sent 70 Youth members to take part in the parade. The Chapter, represented by members from SMK St Xaviers, SMK Free School and SMK Methodist Girls’ School, won third prize in the Merdeka Parade held at Queensbay Penang.

On September 28-30, the Penang Education Department organised the State-level Leadership Camp for Secondary schools Uniform Bodies. The Department invited 30 Youth members to take part in the Camp and three MRC teachers (Mr Daniel Lim, Mdm Ooi Hwei Ching, and Ms Foo Lily) to be the course trainers.

The Education Department organised a Co-curriculum Management and Administration Course in Langkawi on November 22 – 24. The objective of the course was to improve co-curriculum coordination among the uniform bodies. The Department appointed Mdm Ooi Hwei Ching and Mr Daniel Lim as Technical Officers and MRC Youth Officer Ms Foo Lily as the Secretary.

Reported by
Mr Lim Kuo Shee
Assistant Director of Youth
MRC Penang Branch

Date :  December 18, 2010
Venue :  Kampung Valdor, Seberang Perai Selatan
Participation :  170 members from various secondary schools
Description :  This course presents an insight into fire regulations and general fire precautions that trained by Fire & Rescue Department of Malaysia (Jabatan BOMBA & Penyelamat Malaysia), covers role of youth leader, role of first responder during emergency, action on discovering a fire, causes of fire, fire safety precautions, how to use fire extinguishers, liaison with the fire service, fire safety legislation, common causes of fire, fire drills and evacuation.

In the year under review, Penang Branch recorded a total of 200 school units. Of these, 91 were Youth Units in the secondary schools and 109 Link units in the primary schools. The total number of registered school units of 200 is a 15% increase from the figure of 174 units registered in 2006.

The Youths had an active year in 2009. In early April, the 104 Youth members and 3 VAD members from the Branch attended the MRC National Youth Volunteers Camp (PERSUBEL 2009). The team was led by Youth Officer Puan Masitah bt Abd. Rahman. This event was hosted by Kedah Branch at the Keda Bendang Man Resort, Sik, Kedah.

The Branch organised a MRC Penang State Youth Camp 2009 on May 30 – June 1 at SK Jalan Residensi, Georgetown, Penang. The objectives of this event, hosted by Island Chapter, were to develop the leadership potential in the Youths and to promote the MRC Youth Proficiency Badge scheme amongst the Youths. A total of 150 Youth members and Youth Officers from all Chapters attended. Camp crafts such as setting up of tents, gadgets and campsite; backwoodsman cooking; mass cooking; communication skills; foot-drill ; basic fire precaution training; team building games were some of the activities conducted at the Camp.

A Link Leadership Workshop was organised on August 22 at SJKC Keow Kuang, Bukit Mertajam for 150 Link members. The objectives of this event were to obtain the involvement of our Link members from the primary schools; to encourage better integration and better relationship amongst the schools; and to equip the members with basic first aid knowledge. The activities included foot-drill training; skills in setting up tents; techniques of transporting casualties; team building games; Fundamental Principles of Red Crescent; practical first aid and bandaging.

On December 14, the Branch received a visit from 38 pre-school teachers pursuing the Kursus Diploma Perguruan Malaysia at the Institute Perguruan Pulau Pinang. The visit was hosted by Mr Lim Kuo Shee and MRC Trainer Mdm Tye Yuik Chun. A First Aid Talk was given to the group.

The Island Chapter organised the Island Chapter Youth Foot-drill Competition on July 4 at the Base of Regimen 509, Askar Wataniah. The participants came from the Youth units of the secondary schools. The Chapter held a Mass Enrolment Ceremony for the Youth Units on August 22 at the Dewan Hitachi, Penang Branch office.

The Island Chapter VAD & Youth Interaction Day was held on November 29 at the Penang Water Sports Centre. A total of 100 Youth and VAD members attended this outdoor activity. The programmes included Blood Donation, MRC Exhibition, team-building, Telematch and games, and the day ended with a BBQ dinner.

The SPU Chapter (Seberang Perai Utara Chapter) organised the following events during the year:-

• SPU Chapter Youth Units Administration Course on March 7 at SPU Chapter Office in Butterworth. 20 Youth officers from various schools attended.
• SPU Chapter Youth Education in Red Cross & Red Crescent Course on April 11 at Kepala Batas . A total of 60 members attended.
• SPU Chapter Youth Basic First Aid Course on April 18 at Kepala Batas. A total of 110 members attended.
• SPU Chapter Youth Foot-drill Competition I on May 2 at SK St Mark, Butterworth. A total of 72 Youth members participated.
• SPU Chapter Youth Foot-drill Competition II on July 26 at SK St Mark, Butterworth. A total of 70 Youth members took part.

The SPT Chapter organised a Youth Foot-drill Training Course on August 15 at SPT Office in Alma, Bukit Mertajam. This was open to Youth Units from the various secondary schools.

On October 3, SPT Chapter held a Youth BBQ Gathering. 20 Youth members attended.

The SPT Chapter Youth & VAD Annual Dinner 2009 was held on December 19 at The Summit Hotel, Bukit Mertajam. A total of 60 members attended.

The Youths and Links were also involved in several external events and achieved recognition from the Education Department in many of these events:-

• The Central Seberang Perai (SPT) District Education Office appointed Ms Lily Foo (MRC Youth officer of SMK Sama Gagah, Permatang Puah) as Technical Officer of Co-curriculum to co-ordinate the MRC Youth activities at the SPT District.
• The District Education Office also appointed Mdm Ooi Hwei Ching (MRC Link Officer of SJKC Keow Kuang Bukit Mertajam) and Ms Lily Foo as judges for the Uniform Bodies Foot-drill Competition. Both of them have outstanding service records in co-curriculum activities and have been duly recognised by the District Education Office.
• On April 1, SMK Jit Sin (Youth Unit 16) emerged as Champions in the District-level Secondary School Uniform Bodies Formation Foot-drill Competition organised by SPT District Education Office.
• On April 2, SJKC Keow Kuang Bukit Mertajam (Link Unit 70) took the Championship for the District Level Primary School Uniform Bodies Formation Foot-drill Competition organised by the SPT Education Office.
• Four boys and a teacher from SJKC Keow Kuang MRC Link were invited by the Penang State Education Department to join the State-level In-house Training Camp for Primary School Uniform Bodies held on April 9 & 10. The same group was sent to attend the National Primary Boys’ School Uniform Bodies Camp at Manjung, Lumut, Perak on April11- 16.
• For the National Boys’ Camp for Secondary School Uniform Bodies organised on April 13 – 19 by the Ministry of Education at Kuala Nerang, Kedah, six of our Youth members from four Youth Units participated.
• Our Youth Officer, Ms Lily Foo and four girls from our Youth Units were selected by the Penang State Education Department to take part in the State-level In-house Girls’ Training Camp for Secondary School Uniform Bodies held on April 22 – 24 at Pusat Kecemerlangan Sukan Westland, Penang. This same group also took part in the National Girls’ Camp for Uniform Bodies in Kelantan.
• On August 8 – 13, the Ministry of Education organised a Malaysia – Thailand Border Jamboree. The Penang Education Department selected 6 of our Youth members together with members from other uniform bodies to participate in this event.
• In recognition of the efforts of MRC Penang Branch, the Penang Education Department invited Mr Lim Kuo Shee, the Branch Assistant Director of Youths, to attend the State Co-curriculum Award Presentation on November 11.
• The Penang Education Department organised the State-level Leadership Camp for Uniform Bodies in Secondary schools from November 9 – 12. The Department invited three MRC teachers (Mr Daniel Lim, Mdm Ooi Hwei Ching, and Ms Lily Foo) to be trainers at this event. The Department also invited 20 Youth members to take part in the Camp.

RC Internal Events

1.) SPU Chapter Youth Leaders Forum I
Date : 23 Feb 2008
Venue : Kepala Batas
Participants : Reps from 10 schools
The main purpose is to brief on implementation of Youth Proficiency Badges, procedures, membership and youth unit management for the leaders of secondary schools at northern district.

2.) SPU Chapter Youth Leaders Forum II
Date : 01 March 2008
Venue : Butterworth
Participants : Reps from 8 schools
This is another briefing on implementation of Youth Proficiency Badges, procedures, membership and youth unit management for the leaders of secondary schools at Butterworth town area.

3.) Welcome the visit of Youth Unit from Negeri Sembilan
Date : 14 March 2008
Venue : MRC Penang Branch Headquarter
Participants : 4 teachers & 40 RC Youth members (Between Form 3 and Form 5) of SMK Methodist ACS Seremban, welcomed by Island Chapter Vice Chairman Mdm Nancy Cheah, OC Youth Mrs Khoo Beng Kee, Mr. Loh Kit Mun and members.

4.) Participation to MRC National Volunteers Camp 2008
Date : 24 to 27 March 2008
Venue : Bkt Ekspo Tmn Pertanian, UPM Serdang, Selangor
Participants : 135 members (3 buses & 1 van)

5.) SJKC Keow Kuang Link Workshop
Date : 03 May 2008
Venue : Pusat Kokurikulum, Bkt Mertajam
Participants : 80 members

6.) RC Junior Leadership Workshop
Date : 25 May 2008
Venue : Penang Youth Park
Participants : 200 members from all chapters
Objectives :

• To attract the involvement from primary school members.
• To encourage integration between the youth and link units.
• To equip the members with the basic knowledge of the society and first aid.

Activities/Programs:

Footdrill training, skills in setup tents, techniques of casualty transportation, creative drawing, team building games, RC fundamental principles, practical first aid and bandaging.

7.)  Island Chapter Footdrill Competition
Date : 31 May 2008
Venue : Markas Regimen 509
Participants : 100 youth members

8.) Participation to Tutti Fratelli International Camp
Date : 02 to 05 June 2008
Venue : Camar Rimba, Tmn Pertanian Malaysia Shah Alam, Selangor
Participants : 5 outstanding youth leaders from SMK Chung Ling Butterworth

9.) Island Chapter Youth Leadership Development Program
Date : 19 & 20 August 2008
Venue : Penang Water Sports Centre
Participants : 80 youth members
Objectives : (For Lencana Kepimpinan)

• To further instill leadership qualities among members.
• To foster greater ties among the school units, especially the youth leaders.
• To encourage the members to work together and help to ensure that their members to be active.

Activities :

• Seminar/ Talk by Mr. Michael Ng, Dr. Sundramoorthi
• Team building games
• Reflections

10.) MRC Penang State Youth Camp 2008
Date : 11 – 14 December 2008 (4 days & 3 nights)
Venue : Telok Ayer Tawar, Butterworth
Participants : 250 youth members & officers from all chapters
Objectives :

• To develop leadership potential in outstanding youth
• To promote MRC youth proficiency badges scheme

Activities :
Camp Crafts (set up tents, gadgets and campsite), backwoodsman cooking, mass cooking, international phonetics & communication skills, footdrill course, basic fire precaution training, team building games and youth gathering.

External Events & Achievements

1) April 20-26: State Education Department (JPN) selected SMK Jln Damai MRC Youth members to take part in Perkhemahan Persepadu Pasukan Badan Beruniform (Putera) Sek. Men. Peringkat Kebangsaan at Pusat Kokurikulum Pulau Pinang

2) SMK Jit Sin Youth (Unit 16) won the Champion in the district level uniform bodies Formation Footdrill Competition among the secondary schools on 14 April 2008 organized by PPD Seberang Perai Tengah.

3) SJKC Keow Kuang Bkt Mertajam MRC Link unit won the Champion in the district level Uniform bodies Formation Footdrill Competition among the Primary Schools organized by PPD Seberang Perai Tengah on 08 April 2008 and again won 2nd Runner-up in JPN State level Uniform bodies Formation Footdrill Competition at Pusat Kokurikulum Pulau Pinang on 08 May 2008.

4) 60 members from Island Chapter MRC Youth won 2nd runner up in the Merdeka day March Pass on 31 August 2008 in conjunction with 51st National Day celebration at Queensbay Penang.

5) MRC Youth Officers: Ms. Foo Lily and Ms. Ooi Hwei Ching were selected as committee & facilitators to assist the District Education Office in organizing the training camp “PPD Seberang Perai Utara & Tengah Kursus Kenaikan Pangkat Badan Beruniform”: 31 Oct – 3 Nov (Secondary schools) and 7 – 9 Nov (Primary schools) at Pusat Latihan Khidmat Negara Kem Syruz Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam.

Prepared by,
Lim Kuo Shee
Asst. Director of Youth
31 December 2008