Headquarters of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in Geneva, Switzerland will be relocated to Kuala Lumpur next year.

National scout chief, Datuk Seri Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh said the decision was unanimously agreed by 186 countries worldwide which wanted the WOSM to be based in the Asia-Pacific region.

"We discussed this matter at the WOSM conference in Brazil three years ago and Malaysia has been selected. Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia were also keen," he told reporters after presenting the Baden-Powell Award to 21 recipients, here, Sunday.

Announcement of the relocation would be made in Parliament in February 2014 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also president of the Malaysian Scout Movement.

Shafie said the WOSM headquarters would be located in Brickfields and renovation works were already underway.

He hopes the relocation would spur more leaders and Malaysians to join the Malaysia Scout Movement.

Meanwhile, award recipient Shazwani Mokhtar,20, said her veiled attire did not stop her from joining outdoor activities of the Malaysian Scout Movement.

"I joined the Malaysian Scout Movement last year when studying at Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) to meet credit requirements and continued to be active since," she added.