SANDAKAN: Sandakan-born Chan Nyuk Sien @ Shirley Wong has been elected Secretary-General of the National Trainers’ Committee for the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia.
The mother of two and grandmother of two would oversee nationwide leadership training for state commissioners, continuing her lifelong commitment to empowering young women.
“Girl Guiding has been a huge part of my life since school,” Shirley said. “Now that I’m retired, I can dedicate my time fully to training and guiding the next generation of leaders,” said Shirley, who spent 40 years in the movement.
She began her journey as a Girl Scout before completing high school in 1978 and rose steadily through the ranks — Sandakan Ranger Girl Guides Commissioner (1993), Sabah Ranger Girl Guides Commissioner (1995), Malaysia Ranger Girl Guides Trainer (2007) and Sabah State Girl Guides Commissioner (2018).
Outside Girl Guiding, Shirley spent 30 years in accounting as an Account Administrator and Company Secretary, before running her own vegetarian food business from 1999 to 2012. Since retiring, she has devoted herself fully to the movement.
Her contributions have taken her to international stages, including the 2007 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Malaysia, the 2014 Trainers’ Course in Melbourne,Australia, the 2019 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Taiwan and the 38th World Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Conference in Cyprus last year.
Under her leadership, Sandakan has hosted several major events, including the 2015 National Ranger Girl Guides Summit and the 2022 Asia-Pacific Girl Summit. She also played a key role in milestone celebrations like the 88th Anniversary Camp Ria in 2023 and the 99th Anniversary of the Girl Guides Association in Sabah last year.
Shirley is now preparing for another historic event — the 109th Anniversary of the Malaysian Girl Guides Association and the 100th Anniversary of the Sabah Girl Guides Association Camporee, set to be held in Kota Kinabalu in 2025.
“Being part of these milestones is truly special,” she said. “I hope to inspire more young women to embrace Girl Guiding and become confident, compassionate leaders.”