Bridging the East & West
In 1974, the National EXCO decided to ask the Eastern District to host the 1975 Pesta in Kuching. Though the idea was good particularly in promoting national unity and integration, the idea was shelved as many thought it was burdensome to transport all the instruments and equipment to Sarawak. Hence, the hosting job was then given to the Johor Group Council.
It was not till 1992, the Pesta was finally hosted for the very first time in East Malaysia, in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The job of hosting the 1992 Pesta was given to the newly formed Kota Kinabalu Battalion in the Sabah District Council. The 1992 Pesta saw a total of 350 boys and officers joining the one week affair. However, due to the distance and transportation cost, no band competition was held, only the drill and singing competitions were held that year. The 1st Johor Bahru drill squad beat four other teams from Sabah to capture the drill trophy. The singing contest was won by 3rd Tawau.
The seven years gap
After the 8th Pesta (1981), a gap of seven years went by before the event was revived in 1988 in Penang. During this seven years gap, the BBM EXCO had to face with the many events that inevitably left the Pesta in a lower priority. As an EARF Centenary Camp was scheduled in Penang in 1983, it was deemed best to postpone the Pesta for a term. In 1985, the Pesta was also shelved to all the National EXCO to plan ahead for the various activities. By then, many boys would have never heard of the Pesta before, having joined after 1981. Although some of the officers still cherish the Pesta, little could be done to revive it.
Pesta returns to where it first started
In 1988, seven years after the 8th Pesta, the Penang Battalion decided to take up the challenge in hosting the ninth series of Pesta. Only 298 boys signed up for this Pesta, most of whom had very little idea as to what the Pesta was all about. Thus, the 1988 Pesta was an eye-opener to many boys who did their best to enjoy the competitions and fellowships. Only the National Drill Competition was held, and 2nd Penang the defending champion beat other squads for the title.
A turning point in the revival of Pesta
At the 1990 Pesta & Convention in Kuala Lumpur, 757 boys and officers signed up. For the first time in the history of BBM, companies from Sabah and Sarawak sent their drill squads for the National Drill Competition. Fifteen companies took part, the largest number of participation for the event. 1st Kuala Lumpur emerged as drill and band champions. The 1990 Pesta in Kuala Lumpur was indeed a very successful event, attracting many enquiries on the BB. It was also at this tenth Pesta that a National Colour was first presented.
