4th SGM Headquarters Leaders Conference (Part 3)

Commemorating the 95th Founding Anniversary of the Soka Gakkai

The 4th SGM Headquarters Leaders Conference was held from 28 to 30 November 2025 at the SGM Culture Centre. A total of 1,024 region-level and above leaders from all over the country gathered for this three-day, two-night conference filled with intensive learning and inspiring sessions.

In addition to organisational reports for 2025, representatives from various states shared their local peace, culture education and community activities, inspiring all participants to begin new movements in their own communities.

SGM vice-general director Johnny Ng also announced the appointment of SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai as SGI vice-general director cum standing director, and women’s division general leader Chan Oi Mooi as SGI director.

Be the Light, Shining as the Beacon of Hope in Our Community

Under the theme “Let’s hold a dynamic, life-enlivening discussion meeting!” zone vice-leader Khoo Koon Hoe led participants in exploring how to hold discussion meetings that truly engender life-to-life inspiration. He invited zone women’s division leader Tan Hee Hong (Penang) and region women’s division leader Melissa Lee Phooi Kuan (Kuala Lumpur) to share actual experiences from their own areas. Participants also watched an SGI video showcasing discussion meetings around the world, sparking ideas on creating meetings that uplift people.

This was followed by a session titled “The Power of Contribution: Discovering the Impact Beyond What We See,” facilitated by SGM young women’s division vice-leader Seow Phooi Khei, where six representatives shared moving experiences of making offerings and the benefits they experienced. Contribution is a longstanding SGM tradition; our centres and educational institutions were all built through the sincere offerings of members, and this spirit will continue to play a vital role in the future.

In the “Peace, Culture, Education and Community: Uncovering Our Unique Mission” segment, SGM high school division committee members Yap Yuan Tian and Lin Tan Soon Leng invited four representatives from Penang, Perak, Johor and Sabah to present their state activities in peace, culture, education and community engagement. Their initiatives included peace lectures, art exhibitions, the “Seeds of Hope and Action” exhibition in schools, and eco-brick projects. Through these activities they expanded friendship, trust and happiness in society, spreading the Soka philosophy far and wide.

In summarising, SGM women’s division leader Chan Yin Kwan emphasised that although the times change and activities must adapt, the spirit of the organisation must never be forgotten. She encouraged each state to fulfil its mission as a beacon of hope and reminded leaders to always place serving the members and the community at the heart of all activities. She also encouraged everyone to make use of the Soka Community Day events to promote sustainable and inclusive activities in their respective communities. 

Building a Youthful SGM – Let’s Do It!

SGM vice-general director Johnny Ng and youth division leader Andrew Looi reported on the progress of the Ikeda Memorial Park. They announced that the Eternal Flame Foundation has been established to oversee its management and operations, and that construction is expected to begin in April 2026. A nationwide survey will also be conducted next year to gather suggestions from members.

Three state representatives shared the challenges and victories of youths while preparing for the Youth Peace Culture Festival. Pahang zone young women’s division leader Thean Chiew Li related how youths from remote areas took the initiative to participate in performances and attend rehearsals despite difficult journeys and bad weather.

SGM young men’s division vice-secretary Lim Kok Hoe shared that new friends were encouraged to join the festival by SGM youths. Many expressed that after participating, they felt inspired and joyful. He reminded all participants that the awakening of one person can propel countless others forwards and encouraged everyone to strive for victory in the festival.

Selangor state young men’s division leader Teh Yong Seng highlighted that among the performers and crew were 200 new friends, with whom Nichiren Buddhism can be shared. There were youths who travelled two hours every weekend to attend rehearsals at the state culture centre. He resolved to continue heartfelt dialogues with youths, ensuring the festival becomes an unforgettable prime point of faith in their lives.

SGM young men’s division leader Siow Yoon Kee and young women’s division leader Koo Wei Qian then announced that in January, Johor will host the South Asia-Korea-West Japan Joint Youth Training Course, attended by youth representatives from West Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Two SGM youth representatives shared their determination to introduce at least one youth to Nichiren Buddhism before the training course and challenge themselves to be victorious.

SGM Activity Guidelines

Towards 2026 and President Ikeda’s Seventh Memorial in 2029, the four SGM division leaders – men’s division leader Looi Chee Choong, women’s division leader Chan Yin Kwan, young men’s division leader Siow Yoon Kee and young women’s division leader Koo Wei Qian – presented the organisation’s activity guidelines and their personal determinations in the session “Towards the Seventh Memorial of President Ikeda’s Passing – Our Vow and Actions.”

Five SGI Activity Guidelines:

• Let’s all strive with a youthful spirit to share and spread Nichiren Buddhism.
• Let’s put President Ikeda’s guidance into practice and walk the path of the shared struggle of mentor and disciple.
• Let’s challenge our human revolution based on Buddhist study and our daily practice of gongyo and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
• Let’s encourage youth and future divisions members and foster capable successors.
• Let’s spread hope and trust through activities open to our local communities and wider society.

Three SGM Key Activity Focuses:

• Let’s take on the challenge of shakubuku with our vibrant lives!
  Members nationwide will strive to achieve the 8,000-youth shakubuku goal on 3 May, while challenging ourselves in chanting, dialogue, making new friends, shakubuku and reading.
• Let us open new horizons for worldwide kosen-rufu with the vibrant spirit of the “Youth Generation” and “Future Division”!
  Return to placing importance on human connection through one-to-one or small group dialogue and encouragement. The new MY GEN-SOKA Instagram will be launched to share youth activities and spread the spirit of Soka to more young people.
• Let’s work together to create vibrant communities where each person is cherished!
  Listen to each person’s voice, collaborate across divisions and promote home visits, discussion meetings, Gosho study sessions and Soka Community Day activities.

General Director’s Encouragement

SGM general director Koh Sia Feai emphasised that President Ikeda’s struggle after President Toda’s passing serves as an important reference for all leaders. He urged all leaders to seize the coming decade as a decisive period and advance organisational development with the unity of mentor and disciple.

The conference announced the organisational development roadmap towards 2029. Under President Ikeda’s guidance to build “Malaysia – The World’s Foremost Unity!” SGM has revised its initial target of 150,000 members by 2030 to 100,000 members and 20,000 households by 2029. 

Mr Koh also expressed regret for SGM’s inability to achieve the 8,000-youth shakubuku over the past two years, and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to completing this by 3 May 2026. He then revisited key achievements which President Ikeda accomplished soon after becoming the third president in 1960, including the rapid advancement of worldwide propagation, being fully exonerated in the 1962 Osaka Incident trial, establishing the Institute of Oriental Philosophy and Min-On Concert Association, and beginning writing The Human Revolution. These stand as the model for disciples to advance worldwide kosen-rufu.

The meeting concluded with the announcement that 2026 has been designated as the Year of the Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide. Mr Koh called on all leaders to awaken to their mission and take action in their families, communities and organisations. With vibrant lives and an unflagging spirit, he urged everyone to continue advancing kosen-rufu.

Jointly reported by Goh Lim Erng and Eng Joo Min, photographed by Lum Heng and Jeffery Lum