GKL All Leaders Make Fresh Departure; General Director Calls for “One Hundred People Taking a Single Step” to Advance Shakubuku 

On 8 March 2026, the Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL) area held an all-leaders meeting at the SGM Culture Centre, where some 1,400 leaders made a shared determination once again to advance towards the 8,000-youth shakubuku goal.

In line with GKL’s activities direction and goals, the meeting featured several sharing sessions discussing the joy of discussion meetings, reading SGM publications and making financial contributions. GKL area leader Lee See Yew and women’s division leader Kannix Choong also spoke on Soka Spirit and the three principles of the Soka Gakkai, reaffirming the significance of faith-based practice.

SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai delivered a keynote address, noting that only 56 days remain till 3 May, and presented four measures to advance the shakubuku effort.

First, he stressed the importance of a strong sense of urgency. Mr Koh urged all to regard youth shakubuku as their utmost priority, no matter how busy they were, and encouraged leaders to strive to introduce at least one person to Buddhism. Citing the Yamaguchi Campaign in end-1956 and early 1957, which achieved a tenfold membership expansion in just 22 days (over a three-month period), he encouraged participants not to lose heart but to seize the time and take action.

Second, he emphasised that determination must be followed by action; otherwise, goals are meaningless. He reminded participants that Bodhisattvas of the Earth are also people of action, and spoke of how during the Osaka Campaign, President Ikeda attended as many as 20 discussion meetings in a single day, demonstrating that victory in kosen-rufu comes through tireless action.

Third, Mr Koh called for a nationwide movement of unity, stressing that the 8,000-youth shakubuku goal cannot be achieved by only a small group of individuals. He encouraged everyone to advance with the spirit of “one hundred people taking a single step,” mobilising the collective strength of members throughout the nation. He also urged leaders who have achieved their shakubuku goals to continue encouraging others to join in advancing kosen-rufu.

Fourth, he highlighted the importance of advancing based on the spirit of mentor and disciple. He emphasised that acting to bring joy to our mentor is the key to victory, recalling that after SGM achieved 20,000 Professors of Happiness in 2018, President Ikeda’s first message to us was: “I am extremely happy …” Mr Koh encouraged everyone to adorn their lives through shakubuku, as taught in the Gosho passage, “[U]urge others to do the same (chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo); that will remain as the only memory of your present life in this human world.” (WND-1, pg 64)

In closing, Mr Koh encouraged GKL leaders to embrace their role as SGM’s “trailblazer,” take the lead in overcoming stagnation and inspire the entire organisation to advance towards achieving the 8,000-youth shakubuku goal.

Reported by Goh Lim Erng, photographed by Jordann Cheng, Leong Weng Hong and Lum Heng