Queen officiates Girl Guides Association conference, AGM

KOTA BHARU, May 21 — Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Malaysia, officiated the conference and the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia (PPPM) at the Tok Guru Dato’ Bentara Setia Hall in the Kota Darulnaim Complex today.

The arrival of Her Majesty, who is also the Royal Patron of PPPM, was received by PPPM president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PPPM chief commissioner Datuk Yeoh Soo Keng.

In her royal address, the Queen expressed appreciation to Dr Wan Azizah for the latter’s noble efforts and dedicated leadership, noting her consistent emphasis on inclusiveness and unity among members.

“As the Royal Patron of PPPM, I am very proud of the resoluteness, commitment, and remarkable achievements of this association.

“I was informed that its 109th anniversary this year was celebrated with great enthusiasm, beginning with the PPPM 109 Camporee programme, held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Girl Guides Association, last February,” said Raja Zarith Sofiah.

Also present were the Royal Patron of PPPM Kelantan branch, the Sultanah of Kelantan Sultanah Nur Diana Petra Abdullah, PPPM Kelantan branch president Tengku Amalin A’ishah Putri Sultan Ismail Petra, and PPPM Johor branch president Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor.

Her Majesty said the association’s 109th anniversary marks the continuation of its meaningful journey and unwavering dedication to empowering Malaysian girls to become knowledgeable, capable, and morally upright citizens.

“The Girl Guides Association of Malaysia is not only a platform for self-development, but also plays an important role in nurturing values of unity, empathy, and social responsibility.

“In an increasingly challenging world, I urge that the spirit of unity within this association continues to be strengthened and extended to the wider community, for the stability and progress of our beloved nation,” said the Queen

Raja Zarith Sofiah also expressed her joy at witnessing the development of young girls who are actively involved in the association.

The success of the Anugerah Pandu Puteri Raja award recipients is a testament to their excellence, and Her Majesty extended congratulations to all who received the prestigious recognition.

The Queen said she hopes that all members would master digital skills and use technology wisely, for the benefit of themselves, the community, and the country.

“The world is now evolving rapidly, with technological advancements progressing at an extraordinary pace. Artificial intelligence is no longer unfamiliar, as it has become part of our daily lives.

“I believe that the girls in this association will be guided to become digitally literate, responsible in their use of technology, and, above all, remain ethical and compassionate,” said Raja Zarith Sofiah.

— Bernama