Photo : Chong (2nd left) with Jeyadhevi (left) after receiving the Srikandi Pandu Puteri Award. Also in the picture are Kartini (2nd right) and Wong (right).
KOTA KINABALU: Former President of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia (PPPM), Sabah Branch , Datuk Naomi Chong Set Mui has been accorded the prestigious Srikandi Pandu Puteri Award.
It is in recognition of her tremendous contributions to the State Girl Guides Movement during her presidency from 2007 to 2020.
The award carries with it a gold brooch with diamonds, a crystal vase and a certificate.
Kudat-born Chong is only the second guiding leader in Sabah to have been bestowed the Srikandi Pandu Puteri Award after the late Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens who had once served as Patron of PPPM, Sabah Branch.
The ex-Senator received the honour of heroine from the Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides Association of Malaysia, Dato’ Jeyadhevi Subramaniam at the Hilton Hotel here last Saturday.
Among those who witnessed the ceremony were President of PPPM, Sabah Branch, Kartini Datuk Hj Arif and Chief Commissioner of PPPM, Sabah Branch, Shirley Wong.
In her address, Jeyadhevi acknowledged Chong’s contributions to the guiding movement in Sabah during the latter’s tenure. “Naomi deserves this much-coveted accolade,” she said, adding that the distinction should inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
The National Chief Commissioner remembered the conspicuous changes to Wisma Pandu Puteri after Chong had taken over the helm in 2007.
“On my last visit (prior to the Covid-19 pandemic), I couldn’t help noticing the physical transformation of Wisma Pandu Puteri in Sabah. The greatly improved premises ensured a more comfortable and safer environment for the girl guides to take part in activities. That is our Srikandi’s legacy to the Sabah Branch,” Jeyadhevi said.
Part of the building was crumbling down and certified unfit for occupation by the authorities. The then new President wasted no time in mobilising efforts to raise funds and get the structure repaired, and this was completed at the end of 2009. The following year, then Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman (now Tan Sri) officiated at the opening of the renovated Wisma Pandu Puteri.
Chong was supposed to have received the Srikandi Pandu Puteri Award from the Raja Permaisuri Agong in the national capital in 2020, but she could not make it due to travel restrictions at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
When contacted, she remarked : “I was very surprised to be given this rare award, and at the same time, I am delighted that my service after 40 over years in guiding has been appreciated and recognised by the National Girl Guides Movement.
“Although I am no longer the President, I will always be willing to contribute to the Girl Guides Movement in whatever way possible if my services are required. Once a Guide, Always a Guide,” quipped Chong who first joined the Movement as a Brownie in Kudat at the tender age of 10 in 1963.
The newly-minted Srikandi expressed her gratitude to the National and State Girl Guides Councils for their support and guidance in her guiding journey, enabling her to serve in various capacities.
These included being Captain of the Girl Guides Movement in Kudat (1976), Commissioner for Community Relations Division of the Movement in Kudat (1985) and Chairperson of the Kota Kinabalu Local Association (KKLA) support group from 1997 to 2006.
“I am grateful to PPPM, Sabah Branch for naming one of the meeting rooms in Wisma Pandu Puteri after me,” Chong added. It is named Dewan Seri Naomi.
In retrospect, she said the facelift given to Wisma Pandu Puteri would not have taken shape without a substantial contribution from the Sabah Credit Corporation under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, and generous donations from local citizens and supportive members of the public.
