The Boys' Brigade did not appear on the
Asian scene until 1915 when the first Company was founded in Swatow,
China by Rev Guthrie Gamble. The Company however had to fold-up when the
Communist took over China subsequently. The BB then spread to South-east
Asia with the formation of the 1st Singapore Company in 1930 by Mr.
James Fraser.
BB was introduced to Malaya in 1946.
Since then a sequence of events had taken place:
1946 - British soldier,
Mr. Robert Davis, founded the 1st Penang Company with Mr. Geh Hun Kheng,
an educationalist, as the Company Captain. The Company was under the
sponsorship of Madras Lane Chinese (English speaking section) Methodist
Church.
1954 - From Penang, the
BB began to spread to other parts of Malaya beginning with 1st Kuala
Lumpur Company, was formed under the sponsorship of Wesley Methodist
Church, Kuala Lumpur. After which the movement began spreading rapidly
to other towns and even small rural areas of Peninsular Malaya to meet
the needs of boys.
1957 - The Federation of
Malayan Council of The Boys' Brigade was established under the
chairmanship of Mr. Khoo Oon Soo. On 31 August 1957 when Malaya gained
her independence, the BB was honored when it was invited to participate
in the Merdeka Parade.
1959 - First publication
of Anchor Magazine and Mr. Ong Tit Hoe became its first editor.
1961 - The movement
spread its wings to East Malaysia with the formation of 1st Kuching
Company in Sarawak by Mr. Charles H Ingka under the sponsorship of st
Thomas Cathedral.
1962 - BB Malaya &
Singapore Battalion introduced the Founder's Badge in place of the
Queen's Badge. Malaysia became a member of the Pacific Regional
Fellowship which comprise of Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands,
Samoa, Niue, Nauru, Gilbert Islands, Solomon Island, Singapore, Hong
Kong and Malaysia.
1963 - First Pacific Camp
was organized in Port Dickson with the co-operation of the Singapore
Battalion.
1964 - On 5 December was
the formation of The Boys' Brigade in Malaysia consisting the former
Federation of Malaya Council of the Boys' Brigade, Singapore Battalion
and 1st Kuching Company.
1965 - Due to the
political separation of Singapore from Malaysia, the BB in Singapore
ceased to be a component district of the BB in Malaysia as of 19 August.
1966 - 600 Officers and
Boys participated in the first National Review and Display held in Kula
Lumpur. This event was held bi-annually and later known as 'BB Pasta'.
1967 - Under the
sponsorship of YMCA, the 1st Kota Kinabalu in Sabah was initiated by Mr.
Anthony Fong and Mr. Seah Yun Khong became its first Captain.
1976 - East Asia Regional
Fellowship (EARF) of the World Conference was formed comprising of
Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.
1981 - The first
Pan-Borneo Camp was held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
1982 - Due to increasing
expansion in East Malaysia, the Eastern District Council was dissolved
to form the Sabah District and Sarawak District Councils.
1983 - BBM participated
in BB Centenary Celebrations - International Camp in British. Malaysia
organized the 3rd EARF Camp in Penang in conjunction with the BB
Centenary.
1986 - BBM celebrated its
40th Anniversary by organizing its third Pan-Malaysian Camp in Port
Dickson.
1989 - BBM employed its
first full-time staff and rented an office space in Wisma
Methodist to house its National Secretariat.
Also for the first time, BBM 26th Annual
General Meeting was held in Kinabalu Park, Sabah (first time outside the
Peninsular) on 10 April.
62 Boys & Officers from BBM
participated in the BB Hong Kong 30th Anniversary International Camp in
Wu Kwai Sha Village on 30 December 1982-2 January 1990.
1990 - On 3-7 December 18
Boys & Officers represented BBM at the BB Singapore Diamond Jubilee
International Camp Temasek.
1991 - For the first
time, a National Junior Section Officers Training and Conference was
held on 13-16 April 1991 in Frasers's Hill.
The 27th Annual General Meeting was held
in Kuching Sarawak on 24 May 1991 (first time to be held in Sarawak).
1992 - The Sabah District
with the Kota Kinabalu Battalion hosted for the first time the 11th
National Pesta and Convention held in Kota Kinabalu on 3-8 June 1992.
Throughout this time, the BB in Malaysia
maintained friendly ties with its counterpart, BB Singapore through its
annual BBM-BBS Officers Fellowship.
The Boys' Brigade in Malaysia is also an
affiliated member of Majlis Belia Malaysia and the Council of Churches
of Malaysia.
The Boys' Brigade in Malaysia has grown
and is still growing. As at mid-1993, there are more than 65 companies
with over 3000 members.
(Form BB Hand Book Malaysia, Third
Edition)
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