20 Dec, 2025, I was invited to attend OMBAK, a Youth Cultural Peace Rally, organised by the combined effort of Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) of Negeri Sembilan & Selangor, to celebrate
PEACE, the core philosophy & message of SGM.
The gathering was held at 1.30pm, at the huge N9 ARENA Stadium in Nilai, which I never even knew existed.
As I negotiated my car through the massive traffic jam of North-South Highway, I wondered who on earth would want to spend time to celebrate Peace in the hot Saturday afternoon, on the first day of the school holiday.
I was astounded at the packed-house of thousands of audience who were already waiting for the start of the performance!
I was floored by the enthusiasm and amazing commitment by more than a thousand youths who gave us a rousingly spirited performance.
Conducted in both Bahasa Malaysia and English, OMBAK, described how we are each droplets of water and how together we could be the wave of change for the better – for Peace.
Fundamentally, the individual must realise that they are agents of change, that each is the potential seed of nation-building.
The life of service for others, not one of just selfish pursuits, will eventually provide the right meaning to our lives. This was effectively communicated as metaphors in the performances.
The message was effectively scripted and demonstrated in the performances.
We are aware how the efforts of SGM are supported by the voluntary efforts of the community and the movement is spearheaded and inspired by the philosopher, peace-builder & advocate, the late Japanese Daisaku Ikeda. The latter’s message of PEACE, has inspired the philosophy of this Buddhist organisation all over the world, to create universal awareness of peace; that we are in this Planet Earth together and it is up to us not to destroy it with conflicts and wars which had ravaged our lives, time and again, in our brief human history.
Well done SGM! We need to inspire our youths with positivity. It is through the culture of mindfulness that Youths learn to channel their energies towards Nation-building.
Ramli