Singapore Scouts celebrate President Tony Tan’s return to Scouting as Chief Scout

Singapore Scouting welcomed President Tony Tan Keng Yam as its new Chief Scout in a special gathering on 25th February 2012 at the east coast of Singapore.

The ceremony called “Adiji (Welcome) Chief Scout” was attended by 5,000 Scouts across Singapore to greet and welcome President Tan as Singapore’s 7th Chief Scout. By tradition, the Head of State of Singapore is invited to be the Chief Scout.

Chief Commissioner Tan Cheng Kiong said “President Tan is no stranger to Scouting. He was an active Scout in his student days in this school at St. Patrick School and then in University of Malaya. Therefore, we will be celebrating not only his appointment as our new Chief Scout, but also his homecoming to Scouting.”

Mr Ong Teong Wa, a member of the University Rover Crew at the same time as President Tan, shared “The President was an active Rover in 1958 and 1959. He rarely missed an activity. We were a closely knit group from different faculties and countries, enjoying the worldwide brotherhood of Scouting together.” Mr Ong is currently serving the movement as a member of the Scout Council and is a Life Member of the Scout Guild.

The event also featured a display of core Scouting skills such as camp craft, pioneering and outdoor cooking in addition to games and competitions enjoyed by the participants.
-- Caleb Cheah, APR Honorary Correspondent, Singapore

Source: www.scout.org