Wednesday January 2, 2013

Boy scouts build the country’s largest pioneering structure

By ELWEEN LOKE
elween@thestar.com.my

<b>Joint effort:</b> Scouts, both adults and secondary school students, working together to build the scout pioneering structure on an open field behind the Bercham police station.

Joint effort: Scouts, both adults and secondary school students, working together to build the scout pioneering structure on an open field behind the Bercham police station.

WITH 4,000 pieces of mangrove wood and sticks of bamboo and 400kg of jute ropes, a group of boy scouts from Ipoh have built Malaysia’s largest pioneering structure.

The structure, which resembles the Beijing National Stadium or better known as the Bird’s Nest, took 50 members of the Shiang Yang 219 Kinta Open Scout Troop 12 days to complete.

Measuring 14m-tall and with a perimeter of 125m and 40m in diameter, the structure located at an open field behind the Bercham police station, was entered into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) last Sunday.

Team member Yap Chee Yeong said besides the wood, bamboo and jute ropes, the team also used recycled bicycle and motorcycle tyres for their structure.

“We worked on the structure from 7am to 7pm for 12 days consecutively, except when it rained heavily.

“The weather had been quite rough and we were slowed down in the project due to the rain.

<b>Huge in size:</b> An artist impression of the scout pioneering structure.

Huge in size: An artist impression of the scout pioneering structure.

“We were forced to stop work and only resumed building the structure when the skies had cleared,” the 17-year-old said.

Fellow team member Tham Zhao Lun, 16, said having to deal with large chunks of building material was no laughing matter.

“They were really heavy to lift and carry around,” he said.

The structure is currently opened for public viewing until Jan 14 before it is dismantled.

Among the steady stream of visitors who have made their way to see the architectural marvel is 13-year-old Elaine Koh, who with her family, had driven all the way from Malacca to Ipoh to see the mini stadium for themselves.

“You really have to take your hats off to the team.

“I was really amazed by the structure and its enormous size,” said Elaine, a girl scout herself.

Some 2,500 scouts from all over the country have also converged at the mini stadium to celebrate the team’s achievement.

During the mass gathering the same day the structure was completed, MBR Research Journalist Myra Azaman presented a certificate to National Chief Scout Commissioner Datuk Dr Mohd Shahrum Osman in recognition of the success.

News

Wednesday January 2, 2013

Boy scouts build the country’s largest pioneering structure

By ELWEEN LOKE elween@thestar.com.my

By ELWEEN LOKE
elween@thestar.com.my