National Review & Display
In 1966, the National EXCO decided to hold a National Review & Display in the nation's capital, to give the BBM a sense of unity and to encourage fellowship and better understanding among boys and oficers in the whole county. For many, the event was a time to renew friendships made in earlier events. The Review & Display was to be preceded by two days of rehearsals and band competition.
First Band Competition
The first National band competition was held on 3rd August 1966 at the Methodist Boys School ground. Six bands took part:
namely, 1st Teluk Anson, 1st Tanjung Malim, 1st Kuala Lumpur, 3rd Kuala Lumpur, 1st Melaka and 1st Sungei Petani.
The competition attracted a large crowd and Radio Malaysia was also in attendance. After an afternoon of very outstanding music, 1st Melaka was judged to be the winner for the National Flute Shield, while 3rd Kuala Lumpur out-blew the rest to capture the Ipswich Battalion Bugle Trophy.
Immediately after the band competition however, there was no rest for the two winners as both had to combine forces for a joint performance scheduled for the Review & Display.
A Talent Time Contest was held that night, and the crowd, including the guest band from the 12th Singapore were entertained to a night of fun. On 4th August, the big day at the Stadium Negara (National Indoor Stadium) was under way. After a Parade Service conducted by the Rt. Rev. John Lee, the Archdeacon of Central Malaysia, the National Review & Display was declared open by the Malaysian Assistant Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Engku Muhsein Abdul Kadir. Eight display items were presented, all executed to the highest quality, these included a Dyak Ngajat (Iban Dance) from the 1st Kuching Boys. The champions of the band competition and the 12th Singapore band thrilled the audiences with some very fine performances. The event was also captured on film by TV Malaysia.
Pesta Briged Putera
The success of the Review and Display prompted the EXCO to make the Review & Display a regular event in the National Calendar. A second National Review & Display was planned for 1968 in Penang. It was also decided that a national camp should be held prior to the event to further encourage closer fellowship among boys and officers. The event was officially named the Pesta Briged Putera 1968 (The Boys' Brigade Festival 1968) which comprised the First National Camp and the Second National Review & Display.
Hosted by the Penang Group Council, Pesta 1968 attracted a total of 450 boys. The National Camp was declared open by the Chief Minister of Penang, Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee on 8th August 1968, followed by the 2nd National Band Competition a day later. Again six bands took part; with the exception of 1st Butterworth, the other five were veterans. It was the biggest band event ever witnessed in Penang. 3rd Kuala Lumpur was again champion for the bugle section, while 1st Kuala Lumpur captured the National Flute Shield.
The Governor of Penang was the guest of honour for the 2nd National Review and Display held at Han Chiang High School Indoor Stadium on 10th August 1968. Nine items were presented, among them, the trooping of colours presented by the 3rd and 4th Kuala Lumpur was impressive first time in the BBM.
First National Drill Competition
For the first time, a National Drill Competition was introduced in the 1973 Pesta. Five teams took part, namely: 1st Kelang, 2nd Penang, 1st Sungei Petani, 1st Johor Bahru, and 1st Kuala Lumpur. The contest was won by 1st Kelang.
National Athletics Meet
At the 1973 Pesta, there was also a National Athletics Meet which was won by boys from 1st Teluk Anson (now Teluk Intan), and the Northern District winning the District Category.
Bakat BB (BB Talent Time)
A Bakat BB was also held for the first time in the 1973 Pesta on the final evening of the Pesta.
Overall, the 1973 Pesta was a success, and it laid the framework for most of the the events expected in the future Pestas.
This is a video which was used to publicised the Pesta 2003
