I\ I- ~ L:. ~ s I ~ B a~ I ~ !! Vol. 9 No. 4 1974 .RE_ l3L lll ataysian Baha'i News Vo l:9 No.4 Dec. 73-July 74

PERMANENT SEAT, UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

JOYFULLY ANNOUNCE ACCEPTANCE EXQUISITE DESIGN CONCEIVED BY HUSAYN AMANAT FOR BUILDING TO SERVE AS PERMANENT SEAT UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE MOUNT CARMEL STOP DECISION MADE TO PROCEED NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS CONSTRUCTION THIS NOBLE EDIFICE SECOND THOSE BUILDINGS DESTINED ARISE AROUND ARC CONSTITUTE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE BAHA'I WORLD. 7th Feb. '74. THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Front elevation of the design for the building for the Seat of the Universal House of Justice on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The building is to be sited on the central axis of the Arc and will face northward toward 'Akka and Bahji. The architect is Mr. Husayn Amanat. Architects needed for Baha'i Temples

The Universal House of Justice will soon be considering the selection of architects for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkars to be erected in India and Samoa. Those wishing to be considered as architects for either of these Temples are invited to submit statements of their qualifications. Such submission may include examples of works previously designed and/ or executed and, if desired, any thoughts or concepts of proposed designs for the Temples may be expressed in whatever way the applicant chooses. The design of each Temple will be developed by f'he architect selected in relation to the climate, environ­ ment and culture of the area where it is to be built. The initiation of construction of these Temples is a goal of the current Five Year Plan. Cable from the Univ.ersal House of Justice

CHARLES MASON REMEY WHOSE ARROGANT ATIEMPT USURP GUARDIANSHIP AFTER PASSING SHOGHI EFFENDI LED TO HIS EXPULSION FROM RANKS FAITHFUL HAS DIED IN FLORENCE ITALY IN HUNDREDTH YEAR OF HIS LIFE BURIED WITHOUT RELIGIOUS RITES ABANDONED BY ERSTWHILE FOLLOWERS STOP HISTORY THIS PITIABLE DEFECTION BY ONE WHO HAD RECEIVED GREAT HONOURS FROM BOTH MASTER AND GUARDIAN CONSTITUTES YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE FUTILITY ALL ATIEMPTS UNDERMINE IMPREGNABLE COVENANT CAUSE BAHA'U'LLAH. April 5, '74.

2 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 D ec,·7J-Jul11 74

To all i·eaders of the Malaysian Baha'i News Dearly loved Friends, This is the ninth year of the publication of the Malaysian Baha'i News and it is with mixed feelings that we inform you that this will be the last issue of the magazine in this format. This issue coincides with the 21st year of the founding of the West Malaysian Baha'i Community. It is also significant as East and West Malaysia and Brunei have been merged together under the National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia, at the direction of the Universal House of Justice. ·· This year also witnesses the launching of the Global Five Year Plan. To fulfill the need for communication effectiveness on the homefront, a new format will be substituted for the Malaysian Baha'i News. It will be printed in five languages - English, Tamil, Chinese, Malay and Iban, as more than three- quarters of the Malaysian community live in rural areas where these vernacular languages are spoken. The decision to replace the Malaysian Baha'i News was made after considerable consultation, when Mrs. Shantha Sundram who has been the Editor since the first issue in 1965, requested to be relieved of this heavy responsibility because of her appointment as Auxiliary Board Member. We wish to take this opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude for all the wonderful work that she has put into the magazine all these years. Throughout the pages of the Malaysian Baha'i News have been recorded the events, people and institutions that have contributed to the emergence of the Baha'i Community of Malaysia which now envelops almost 30,000 registered believers in over a thousand localities. Surely future Baha'i historians will find the Ma layasian Baha'i News a rich source of information, and inspiration for others to come. We thank our readers at home and abroad for their interest and subscriptions to the Malaysian Baha'i News, and hope that they will equally enjoy the new publications in good time. With loving Baha'i greetings, The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Malaysia. July 1974

Malaysian Baha'i News, a quarterly magazine, 1s the official organ of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Malaysia for circulation among Baha'is only.

Editor: Mrs. Shantha Sundram, 3, Minden Heights (8), Pena.ng, Malaysia. Circulation: Miss Margaret Chan. Publishing Manager: Dr. Chellie J. Sundram, 3, Minden Heights (8), Penang, Malaysia.

A note to subscribers who have kept back issues of the MBN :- Vol. 3 No. 4 is non-existent, as the volume numbers were changed that year to coincide with the Baha'i calendar, and that issue, (March 1968), was numbered Vol. 4 No. 1.

3 Malal(Bian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 7$~v.111 74

Message to the Baha'is of the World from the Universal House of Justice Naw-Ruz 1974

Dearly-loved friends,

A span of eighteen years separates us from the centenary of Baha'u'llah's Ascension and the unveiling of His Almighty Covenant. The fortunes of humanity in th at period no man can foretell. We can, however, confidently predict that the Cause of God, impelled by the mighty forces of life within it, must go on from strength to strength, increasing in size an'd developing greater and ' greater powers for the accomplishment of God's purpose on earth.

The abundant evidences of Divine confirmation which have rewarded the strenuous and dedicated efforts of the Baha'i community during the past decade are apparent throughout the earth and give incontrovertible assurance of its capacity to win the good pleasure of Ba ha'u'llah and answer every call made upon it in His service.

The Five-Year Plan to which this community is now summoned is the opening campaign of these critical years. It is the third global plan embarked upon by the Army of Light in its implementation of Abdul Baha's Divine Plan, that world-encompassing programme disclosed in His perspicuous Tablets and described by the Guardian of the Cause of God as the Charter for the propagation of the Faith throughout the world. It was the Guardian himself, the beloved "sign of God," who, through his exposition and iriterpretation of the Revelation, through his discipline and education of the Baha'i community and through a series of national plans assigned to the various units of that community, forged the Administrative Order of the Faith and made it an instrument for the carrying out of thi s great Charter, and he himself designed and 'launched the first global plan, the unique, brilliant an d spiritually glorious Ten Year Crusade. The victories of that crusade · implanted the banner of Baha'u'Jlah throughout the planet and the following Nine Year Plan reinforced and extended the bastions of the Faith and raised the number of National Spiritual Assemblies - the supporting pil lars of the Universal House of Justice - to one hundred and thirteen, a number increased to one hundred and fifteen by the formation at this Ridvan of the National Spiritual Assam blies of Hong Kong and South East Arabia.

This Five-Year Plan has three major objectives: preservation and consolidation of the victories won; a vast and widespread expansion of the Baha'i community; development of the distinctive character of Baha'i life particularly in the local communities. The achievement of these overall aims requires the accomplishment of particular tasks at the World Centre of the Faith, and by national and local communities.

At- the World Centre work will continue on the collation and classification of the Sacred Texts; authorized translations of three compilations of Scripture will be made and published, namely, Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas, prayers and extracts from the Writings of the Bab, greatly augmenting the fragments of His Utterance now avai lab le in the West, and of the Master's works comprising a wide selection from the vast range of subjects illumined by His Divine wisdom; construction will begin on the building on Mount Carmel to serve as the seat of the Universal House of Justice and it is hoped to complete it during the Five Year Plan; further extension and beautification of the gardens and lands surrounding the Holy Places will take place; strengthening of the relationship between the Baha'i International Community and the United Nations will continue; and efforts will be constantly made to protect the Faith from persecution and to free it from the restraints imposed by rel igious orthodoxy.

In the in ternational sphere the erection of two Mash riqu'l-Adhkars - one in India and one in Samoa - will be initiated; eight International Teaching Conferences wi ll be held during the middle part of the Five­ Year Plan; two for the Arctic, one in Anchorage and one in Helsinki during July 1976, one in Paris in August 1976, one in Nairobi in October 1976, one in Hong Kong in November 1976, one in Auckland and one in Bahia, Brazil in January 1977 and one in Merida, Mexico in February 1977.

Sixteen new National Spiritual Assemblies will be formed, namely the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahamas, Burundi, Cyprus, the French Antilles, Greece, Jordan, Mali, Mauritania, the New Hebrides, N iger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Surinam and French Guiana, Togo, and Upper Volta; their national Haziratul-Quds, Temple sites and endowments must be acquired; the dissemination of news and messages, so

4 Malayaian Baha'i New• Vol:9 No.4

Message to the \Vorld (continued) vital to the knowledge, encouragement and · unity of the Baha'i community, must be made efficient and rapid, and in anticipation of a vast expansion in the number of believers, of Local Spiritual Assemblies and of localities where Baha'is reside a co-ordinated programme of translating and publishing Baha'i literature with the eventual aim of providing the Sacre.d Text and the teachings of the Faith to all mankind is to be developed - a programme which will include the founding of six Baha'i Publishing Trusts and the continued subvention of Baha'i literature, 409 inter-Assembly assistance projects are scheduled and, at the outset of the Plan, 557 p'ioneers are called for.

One of the distinguishing features of the Cause of God is its principle of non-acceptance of financial contributions for its own purposes from non-Baha'is; support of the Baha'i Fund is a bounty reserved by Baha'u'llah to His declared followers. This bounty impo ses full responsibility for financial support of the Faith on the believers alone, every one of whom is called upon to do his utmost to ensure that the constant and liberal outpouring of means is maintained and increased to meet the growing needs of the Cause. Many Baha'i communities are at present dependent on outside help, and for them the aim must be to become self-supporting, confident that the Generous Lord will, as their efforts increase, eventually enable them to offer for the progress of His Faith material wealth as well as their devotion, their energy and love.

The proclamation of the Faith, following established plans and aiming to use on an increasing scale the facilities of mass communication must be vigorously pursued. It should be remembered that the purpose of proclamation is to make known to all mankind the fact and general aim of the new Revelation, while teaching programmes should be planned to confirm individuals from every stratum of society.

The vast reservoir of spiritual energy, zeal and idea Iism resident in Baha'i youth, which so effectively contributed to the success of the Nine Year Plan, must be directed and lavishly spent for the proclamation, teaching, and consolidation of the Cause. Spiritual Assemblies are urged to provide consultation and the offer of guidance to Baha'i youth who seek to plan their lives in such a way as to be of utmost service to the Cause of God.

The education of children in the teachings of the Faith must be regarded as an essential obligation of every Baha'i parent, every local and national community and it must become a firmly-established Baha'i activity during the course of this Plan. It should include moral instruction by word and example and active participation by children In Baha'i community life.

The Five Year Plan must witness the development in the world-wide Baha'i community of distinctive Baha'i characteristics implanted in it by Baha'u'llah Himself. Unity of mankind is the pivotal principle of His Revelation; Baha'i communities must therefore become renowned for their demonstration of this unity. In a world becoming daily more divided by factionalism and group interests, the Baha'i community must be distinguished by the concord and harmony of its relationships. The coming of age of the human race must be foreshadowed by the mature, responsible understanding of human problems and the wise administration of their affairs by these same Baha'i communities. The practice and development of such Baha'i characteristics are the responsibility alike of individual Baha'is and the administrative institutions, although the greatest opportunity to foster their growth rests with the Local Spiritual Assemblies.

The divinely ordained institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly operates at the first levels of human society and is the basic administrative unit of Baha'u'llah's World Order. It is concerned with individuals and families whom it must constantly encourage to unite in a distinctive Baha'i society, vitalised and guarded by the laws, ordinances and principles of Baha'u'llah's Revelation. It protects the Cause of God; it acts as the loving shepherd of the Baha'i flock.

Strengthening and development of Local Spiritual Assemblies is a vital objective of the Five Year Plan. Success in this one goal will greatly enrich the quality of Baha'i life, will heighten the capacity of the Faith to deal with entry by troops which is even now taking place and, above all, will demonstrate the solidarity and ever-growing distinctiveness of the Baha'i community, thereby attracting more and more thoughtful souls to the Faith and offering a refuge to the leaderless and hapless millions of the spiritually bankrupt. moribund present order.

"These Spiritual Assemblies", wrote 'Abdul Baha, "are aided by the spirit of God. Their Defender is Abdul Baha. Over them He spreadeth His wings. What bounty is there greater than this? Likewise, these Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps and heavenly gardens, from which the fragrances of holiness are diffused over all regions, and the lights of knowledge are spread abroad over all created things. From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction. They, indeed, are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions".

5 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.h Dec. 73-July 74

Message to the World (continued)

During the Five Year Plan Local Spiritual Assemblies which are being formed for the first time, are to be formed whenever there are nine or more adult believers in the relevant area; thereafter they must be elected or declared at Ridvan. National Spiritual Assmbl ies are called upon to assign, and encourage the Local Spiritual Assemblies to adopt goals within the overall framework of the Five Year Plan, to consult w ith them and to assist them to make great efforts to gradually assume their proper function and responsibilities in the World Order of Baha'u'llah. The friends are called upon to give their whole-hearted support and co-operation to the Local Spiritual Assembly, first by voting for the membership and then by energetically pursuing its plans and programmes, by turning to it in time of trouble or difficulty, by praying for its success and taking delight in its rise to influence and honour. This great prize, this gift of God within each community must be cherished, nurtured, loved, assisted, obeyed and prayed for. Such a firmly-founded, busy and happy community life as is envisioned when Local Spiritual Assemblies are truly effective, will provide a firm home foundation from which the friends may derive courage and strength and loving support in bearing the Divine Message to their fel low-men and conforming their lives to its benevolent rule.

The deeds and programmes, all these multifarious world-wide activities to which you are summoned have but one aim - the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth. At every stage of this process and at all levels of Baha'i responsibility, whether individual, local or national, you wi ll be encouraged, advised and assisted by the divinely ordained institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, an institution powerfully reinforced by the successful establishment of the International Te aching Centre. Through the emergence of this Centre t he seal has been set on the accomplishment of the goal, announced nearly ten years ago, of ensuring the extension into the future of the specific functions of protection and propagation conferred upon the Hands of the Cause in the Sacred Text. Through the work of the International Teaching Centre, which supervises and co-ordinates the work of the Boards ·of Counsellors around the world, the love, the guidance, the assistance of the Hands, through the Boards of Counsellors, their Aux iliary Board members and their assistants, permeates the entire structure of Baha'i society.

The Chief Stewards of Baha'u'llah's embyonic world commonwealth have indeed assured to that growing community, the care for its welfare, for the development of its character, for its spiritual encouragement which are among the duties of their high office.

As the old order gives way to the new, the changes whi ch must take pl ace in human affa irs are such as to stagger the im agi nation. This is the opportunity for the hosts of the Lord. Undismayed and undeterred by the wreckage of "Long-cherished ideals and time-hon cured institutions" , now being "swept away and relegated to the limbo of obsolescent and forgotten doctrines", the world community of Baha'is must surge forward eagerly, and with ever-increasing energy, to build those new, God-given institutions from which will be diffused the light of the ho ly principles and teachings sent down by God in this day for the salvation of all mankind. The Universal House of Justice Nawruz 1974

Elucidations on the Message to the World and clarifications on Malaysia's goals - pages 46-48.

"There is a power in this Cause - a mysterious power - far, far, far away from the ken of men and angels; that invisible power is the cause of all these outward activities. It moves the hearts. It rends the mountains. It administers the complicated affairs of the Cause. It inspires the friends. It dashes into a thousand pieces all the forces of opposition. It creates new spiritual worlds. This is the mystery of the Kingdom of Abhal" ~~

Abdu'l-Baha - The Covenant of Baha'u'llah.

6 Malay•ia>1 Baha'i N ew s Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 711-Julu 74

Malaysian goals under the Five Year Plan Universal House .of Justice Nawruz 1974 To the Baha'is of Malaysia Dear Baha'i friends, As we embark upon a new campaign we give thanks to Baha'u'llah for the valiant Baha'i community in Malaysia. Your achievements dur ing the past years have been not only a source of joy to the Baha'i world, but a fountain of inspiration to your fellow believers throughout Southeastern Asia. The great potentialities and resources of the friends in the Eastern and Western parts of Malaysia will now be combined, enhancing your unity and increasing your potency to serve. Every community in the Baha'i world is required, while pur suing the overall objectives of the Fi ve Year Pl an, to achieve a number of tasks within its own area and in association with other national communities. The specific goals assigned to your community are to: Ra ise the number of localities where Baha'is reside to at least 1,500; Raise the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies to a minimum of 400; Ra ise the numbe1· of incorporated Loca l Spiritual Assembli es to 250; Acquire 20 Local Haziratul-Quds, of which 10 should be large enough to accommodate activities of a number of communities in the surrounding district; Establish a Baha'i Publishing Trust; Develop, in accordance with the needs of the exp ansion and consolidation work, a programme for the translation and publication of Baha'i literature in the languages used in your country; Encourage and organise regular Baha'i activities and classes for women, youth and children of t he communities in your area; Assign extension teaching goals to at least 50 Local Spiritual Assemblies w ithin your a1·ea; Hold at least two Regional Teaching Conferences for South East Asian countries; Whenever and wherever feasible, encourage the friends to gather for early morning prayers in their local communities ; Encourage and offer guidance to Baha'i youth to plan their li ves to be of greatest service to the Faith and provide means whereby their offers of specific perio ds of teaching and other service beyond their normal teaching activities can be organised and used to the best advantage; Mobilise the Baha'i youth to teach the Cause to their own generation, particularly in colleges and universities. Plan and carry out a programme for the training of one or more be lievers from local communities having a Local Spiritual Assembly which will enable them to assist their fellow believers to deepen in the Cause an d to work for the consolidation of the community; Greatly increase the number of believers, endeavou ring to reach all sections of the population, particul arly those of divers backgrounds; O rga nise correspondence courses for deepening the friends in the knowledge of the Cause, and for teaching the Fa ith throughout the country; In the field of international cooperation your community is privileged to: Assist the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana; Taiwan and Thailand by sending pioneers to those countries;* Assist the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Ba ha'is of Hongkong, Singapore and Taiwan in the translation and publication of Baha'i literature in Chinese; Assist the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of India and Sri Lanka in the translation and publication of Baha'i literature in Tamil; Provide a continuous flow of travelling teachers to various parts of the world to assist in the teaching programs of your sister national communities, especially in countries where large numbers of people of Chinese origin reside. May the Beloved shower upon you His confirmations and guide you in every effort you exert in the service of His precious Faith. With loving Baha'i greetings, The Universal House of Justice.

* Pioneer goals: 1 to Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana, 2 to Ta iwan and 2 to Thailand.

7 Malayoian Baha'i Newo Vol:9 No.I, Dec. 73 -July 7~ ·

COUNSELLORS AND AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBERS OF S.E. ASIA MEET IN MALAYSIA

Counsellors of the S.E. Asian Zone - from left to right: Dr. Chellie Sundram, K.H. Payman, Firaydun Mithaqiyan, Yan Kee Leong, Vicente Samaniego.

Laos - A Kannabran., Malaysia's youth On the 29th and 30th of March four pioneer to Laos was appointed as an members of the Continental Board of Coun­ Auxiliary Board Member for Laos. sellors of the S.E. Asian region, met for the first CBC-ABM meeting to be held in Thailand - Mr. Nasser Jafari of the National Assembly of Thailand and of the Malaysia. Their sessions were held at the National Haziratu'l-Quds in Kuala Lumpur, Area Teaching Committee of South Thailand was appointed Auxiliary Board Member. and the Counsellors also met briefly with the National Assembly. Present at the meeting Assistant Auxiliary Board Members were Counsellors Yan Kee Leong (who had Mr. Soh Aik Leng of Penang was flown in from Hong Kong) Firaydun appointed assistant ABM for West Malaysia Mithaqiyan from Laos,. K.H. Payman from and Mr. G. Kuppusamy of Sarawak was Indonesia, and Dr. Chellie Sundram from appointed assistant ABM for East Malaysia. Papua New Guinea (where he was on a WHO assignment). Vic Samaniego was Mr. Freddie Tan, of the Singapore NSA unable to be present. The Auxiliary Board was appointed assistant ABM for Singapore. Members were Shirin Fozdar from Thailand, Maha Bousi from Laos, Shahin Azadeh from ...... the Philippines, Dr. Suraya from Indonesia, "There are two kinds of Baha'is, one might say: Grete Fozdar from East Malaysia, and lnbum those whose religion is Baha'i and those who live Chinniah and Shantha Sundram from West for the Faith. Needless to say if one can belong Malaysia. to the latter category - if one can be in the vanguard of heroes, martyrs and saints, it is more Counsellors Conference praiseworthy in the sight of God". (From letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 1950) On Sunday 31st March the Counsellors and Board Members met the Baha 'i Com­ ••• + ••••••••••••••••••• + •••••••••••• munity for a day-long conference which was held at the Y.M.C.A. hall. Over a hundred believers representing almost all states in West Malaysia were present. Topics discussed were pioneering, teaching, role of women, in-depth institutes and the need for the believers to revolve themselves around the Divine Plan. The theme of the conference was preparation for the Five Year Plan. New Auxil iary Board Members Malaysia - Mrs. Shantha Sundram was appointed on the Auxiliary Board in November, '73 but with the consent of the Universal House of Justice, she continued to Counsellor Payman meeting with members of the NBYC serve also on the NSA until Ridvan 74. after the conference in Kuala Lumpur.

8 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 v .c. 79-Jutu 74

Peninsular Malaysia enters her 21st yeai· in 1974 · ;. and we take pleasure in presenting ...... the story of Yan Kee Leons our first believer

On the 19th of December 1953, a the town of Shantiniketan in India in 1949, Malayan Chinese artist by the name of Yan when he attended a World Pacifist Con­ Kee Leong signed a little card accepting ference there as the official Chinese delegate Baha'u'llah and His Teachings. Possibly the from Malaya. A lucky chance (or was it only person aware of the historical signi­ fate?) placed him next to an eloquent ficance of that moment was pioneer Mrs. speaker representing a religion called Shirin Fozdar, who handed him the card, "Baha'i", and he recognized in the talk making him the first believer in Malaya, something that sounded exactly like what he (known today as West Malaysia). That had been searching for. He immediately simple act heralded the birth of a new era suggested to the speaker, Mrs. Shirin Fozdar for this country, which has reached the that she should visit Malaya and lecture mature age of 21 years in 1974, and whose on the Faith. Yan Kee Leong although a national register now lists the names of over Roman Catholic, had in fact been such an 30,000 believers of both East and West earnest seeker, that he was at that time the Malaysia. founder of a Society of Universal Brother­ The Baha'i story of Yan Kee Leong began hood whose aims were in line with the when the seed of the Faith was first sown in teachings of the Faith. In 1952, Yan Kee Leong was once again a delegate from Malaya at an international gathering, the World Federalist Government Conference held in Japan. His colleague was Tunku Abdul Rahman, (who later achieved world fame as Malaysia's first Prime Minister). At this conference, partly held in Hiroshima, fate again placed Yan Kee Leong next to another distinguished pioneer, Agnes Alexander, with whom he later kept up a regular correspondence. (Agnes Alexander was elevated to Hand of the Cause in 1957). First pioneers arrive Around the Baha'i world, the Seven Year Plan inaugurated by the beloved Guardian, was in progress, and in Bombay, a

Yan Kee Leong and Tunku Abdul Rahman at the call for pioneers was answered by Dr. and World Federalist Conference in Japan, 1952, where Mrs. ICM. Fozdar who arrived in Singapore they represented Malaya. in 1950 as the first pioneers to this region.

9 1\1alo.ysian Baha'i 1Vews Vol:9 No ..~ D ec. 79- J 11 l11 7/,

A state of emergency existed in Malaya at Mass-teaching begins the time, restricting free and easy travel, Yankee was the first Baha 'i from Malaya and it was three years later in 1953 that Yan to travel-teach in the neighbouring countries Kee Leong was able to arrange talks for of Brunei and Sarawak at the invitation of Mrs. Fozdar in Malacca, Seremban and John and Minco Fozdar who were pioneering Kuala Lumpur. By the end of that tour, he there, and he began mass-teaching among had signed himself into history by becoming the \bans with the help of an interpreter, the first Baha 'i of Malaya. Philip Cheng. Many of the !ban resi dents of the long-houses in up-country villages An exciting beginning still re member Yankee's early visits. Jantom Baha 'i records around the world have ak Ugo, the first !ban believer, became a the names of many first believers who have Baha 'i during Yankee's first visit in 1960, and is still on the Brunei Local Assembly since been lost through inactivity, but for Yankee':', as he is popularly called, this was and active in the Faith. only the beginning of an impressive ser ies On the mainland of Malaya, Yankee oF firsts. He was an ardent theosophist and was the first Baha 'i to take the Faith to the lost no time in passing on his exc iting aborigines (Aslis) in the jungles at the request discovery to his colleagues, many of whom of the Regional Spiritual Assembly. His most recognized in Baha 'u'llah's teachings the treasured memory is of the time when the culmination of their search, and the firs1 Asli village accepted Baha'u'llah in 1959 Theosophical Society of Seremban (Yankee's in the state of Perak. This achievement is hometown), closed its doors that year as all all the more remarkable when one realizes their members became Baha 'is. Some of that Yankee was not a youth at this time, them were privileged to serve on the first but a good sixty years old, and that the Local Spiritual Assembly of Seremban, which Malayan jungle can be a nasty place with was the very first assembly to be elected thick undergrowth, criss-crossed w ith rivers in Malaya, on April 21st, 1954. and filled with leeches.

Dr. and Mrs. Fozdar then charged International activities Yankee with the responsibility of opening The National Spiritual Assembly of up Malacca and Kuala Lumpur. He wasted Malaysia:!: came into being in April, 1964 not a moment and Baha 'u'llah guided him and Yankee was elected as its first secretary. to the waiting souls in these places. By By the following year, he was af?po inted as next Ridvan, the LSAs of Malacca and Kuala an Auxiliary Board Member and his travels Lumpur were also formed. and projects continued with ever-increasing zeal. Together with Auxiliary Board Member There was no National Spiritual Assembly Mr. Leong Tat Chee, Yankee visited Hong in the region at that time, and declaration Kong, Macao and Taiwan, being the first cards were returned to the NSA of India and Malaysians to go there. On their return, Burma for recording. In 1957, the Regional both these stalwarts continued to appeal for Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia was teachers from Malaysia to help in these formed, with jurisdiction over seven countries countries, resulting in a great awareness of in S.E. Asia, and Yankee was privileged to their needs and culminating in our first few serve for a time on that body. pioneers there.

* Chinese names are traditionally written with th e surname fi rst, so "Yan" is actually the surname, and not "Leong" as it may appear from this story. :j:MALAYSIA was then made up of the Federation of Malaya (known as West Malaysia) , Sabah and Sarawak. (known as East Malaysia), and Singapore. Brunei, a separate country, was also under the NSA of Malaysia.

10 Malaysian Baha'i N ews Vol:9 No.4 Dec. rs-July 74

In 1968, Yankee was appointed a Hong Kong to assist in the preparation of member of the fi rst Conti nental Board of the first Convention. He was there to help Counsel lors for the South Ea st Asian Zone usher in the new National Assembly which and has since represented the Board in was formed at Ridvan '74 in the presence Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and else­ of beloved Hand of the Cause, Amatu 'I Baha where. Ruhiyyih Khanum.

Yankee's journeys to the surrounding Today countries were not merely in the nature of Much has happened in Malaysia in visits to encourage the believers. In spite these last 21 years since the time when a of his age and health, he was always in the single dedicated believer undaunted by the forefront of active teaching projects. To the scepticism of family and friends, started the mountains of up-country Thailand he went process of sharing his new-found Faith with with the friends, and helped to open up new others. Over the years, he has had the joy communities of tribal believers. In Laos also of seeing his children become pillars of the he travelled to remote regions with the Faith in different parts of the country, and pioneers, staying under primitive conditions, his grandchildren, active Baha'i youth. and helped to bring into the Faith members of different Laotian and Meo tribes. Today there are about 300 Local Spiritual Assemblies and over 1000 localities under the At the request of Dr. Muhajir, Yankee National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia, visited the Philippines in 1966 where he had which has sent pioneers to many countries the joy of bringing the first Chinese Baha 'i around the world, including Africa, India, into the Faith. He was also privileged to guide the first Chinese believers of Burma Ceylon, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong into the Faith during his visit there in 1972, among others. and it was at his suggestion that the NSA Counsellor Yan Kee Leong, the only formed their first National Youth Committee Chinese member of the Continental Board, is which today is a very active group in Burma. currently visiting countries where Chinese Singapore and Hong Kong reside, with Vietnam as his first destination When Singapore needed help before and possibly Mauritius the next. the formation of her National Assembly, Seventy-five and young at heart, our first Yankee went over to assist the handful of believer, beloved Yan Kee Leong, is still out workers there, and together with Leong Tat in the front line, an inspiration for this Chee, manned the Baha'i Centre working generation and others to come. ceaselessly for many months. At Ridvan '72 he had the bounty of being present at the Shantha Swndram birth of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sin gapore, on which his daughter Rose Ong was elected chairman and his grandson Henry Ong served as a member. In 1971 an intensive forty-day teaching campaign was organized in Hong Kong, and Yankee was right there in the front-line walking up and down in the villages in the New Territories and also taking the Message to the nearby islands.

In early '74 at the request of the Board of Yan Kee Leong in an interview with the Mayor of Counsellors, Yankee spent some months in Saigon, during his current visit, July 1974.

11 Malaysian Ba.ha' i N ews Vot: 9 No.4 Dec. 73-July 74

THE PENANG HILL INSTITUTE

If nineteen friends at a Nine­ institute going smoothly! They learned how Day Institute feel that they can to qui etly guide the discussion, keeping them­ hardly describe their experience in selves as much out of it as possible, and mere words, then one can imagine letting Baha'u'llah open up hearts and minds how difficult it would be to describe to understand His words. what happened when sixty friends attended such an institute. Back in the hall, after some lusty singing led by Layli Caldwell who had come from This took place from December 3-11, Alaska to assist her father, Jenabe held a 197 4, at a beautiful setting half-way up session on teaching techniques gleaned from Penang Hill, when Jenabe Caldwell was Abdu 'I Baha's writings and lavishly inter­ invited by the NSA of Malaysia to co-ordinate spersed with stories from his experience,s. a deepening institute to inspire the friends for As the days flew by, spirits soared higher a teaching campaign prior to the National and higher and at times it seemed that the Youth Conference. roof would lift off with the spiritual force No limit was set on numbers, and six generated. Physical appetites appeared to friends who had previously attended such an keep pace with the spiritual, and the cooks institute came to this one for a refresher were kept busy all day long catering for course. They knew from experience that the sixty hungry Baha'is who descended into the size of the group should ideally be about dining hall, chattering, laughing or singing, nineteen or less, and th ey were a little curious six times a day (breakfast, coffee-break, as to how this one would be conducted. lunch, tea-break, dinner and supper). Imagine their surprise when Jenabe divid ed It would seem that nothing more could up the sixty participants into smaller groups, be added to this crowded schedule, but and called upon these friends to be co­ somehow firesides were held and a few of ordinators and monitors. . Gone was th eir the workers living up Penang Hill became dream of relaxing . i!1 h~a~en, . ... Jena be Baha 'is. (An LSA was formed at Ridvan). turned this 111ammoth in-depth · institute into a Co-ordinators Course as we.II as a Teaching In addition, Baha 'i students from the Institute by adding sessions to the usual Penang University who could not attend the schedule of a Nine-Day Deepening Institute. Institute, managed to come up the Hill in It was really a very rich feast. the evenings and stay for deepening sessions with Jenabe. The daily schedule On top of everything else, a wedding The normal routine of two hours of took place during the Institute. Two of the personal prayer and six hours of study class was maintained, and while the social hour participants, Wong Meng Fook and Susie was in progress in the main hall, Jenabe had Chong were married on Sunday between 1 a briefing with the co-ordinators and and 2 p.m. which was the daily rest period. monitors, who realised for the first time, the Auxiliary Board Member lnbum Chinniah who extent of preparation necessary to keep an was attending the Institute officiated at the

12 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 7S-July 74 request of the LSA of Georgetown. Sessions were held on schedule thal' day, but during the one hour, everybody found time to change into festive clothes. Flowers were gathered together for a bridal bouquet, and the bare hall was hurriedly converted into a reception room. The bridal couple were enveloped in a heavenly atmosphere of love as sixty people who were overflowing with the spirit, sang and wished them joy.

The premises of the Penang Hillview Institute at which the course was being held, was only available for seven out of the nine A newly declared Baha'i family in the fishing village of days, so the whole group had to come down Telok Bahang, Peoang, with members of the team. the hill for the last two days. The only transport up and down the hill was by Even more remarkable was the fact that funicular railway, and as the friends came through further sacrifice only $300 was spent down in batches, they attracted considerable for the whole campaign and the remaining attention through their radiant happiness. $600 contributed to the National Fund. The Institute continued as scheduled at Jenabe had to leave for India the next the Glugor' Centre, and accomodation was day, but until the minute he lefi', he briefed somehow found for everyone to be together. the army on the type of discipline that was It ended officially at about 5 p.m. on the expected of them. NSA member Ganesan 11th of December with prayers, pledges, was appointed the commander, and Layli laughter and tears, but instead of dispersing, Caldwell · his adviser, because of her everyone stayed on for a grand Unity Feast, experience in such campaigns. as it happened to coincide with the 19 Day Feast of Masail. . . The areas selected were Batu Maung, Bayon Lepas and Balik Pulau on the Teaching Campaign south-east coast of Pena ng Island, and A five-day teaching campaign had been Tanjorig Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Telok planned by the NSA to follow 'straight after the Institute, and when volunteers were called for, fift'f-five out of the sixty pledged to stay on, the few who coul dn't make ii·, having exhausted all their leave. The rnagnificient sum of $900 was collected that nigh!' 'fo cover the expenses of this army of lighl'. Considering thal' all had paid for their nin e days' expenses and that many were youth, this was a remarkable demonsti­ ration of dedication and sacrifice - ·the Soh Aik Leng (right) teaching prayers in the home of immed iate fruit of the nine-day institute. new d'eclare'cl fisher-folk.

13 Mala11sian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 79-July 74

Bahang on the north-west coast, Kulim on came from Sarawak and was also taken up the Kedah-Penang border, Butterworth and into South Thailand through one Baha'i who Prai. The target areas were all within fairly managed to attend from there. close reach of a Baha 'i Centre which served as home-base for the army. The happiest part of this story is that most of the fruits of the campaign have The strategy survived and matured ...... Six teams moved out each morning after prayers and briefing. The members of the teams and their captains were changed each day. In this way many different friends learned to plan and make decisions so that they would be better fitted to arrange such campaigns in their home-towns later. Every member of the team wore a Baha'i badge, which was his uniform. All were cautioned Dr. MUHAJIR'S VISITS against simply collecting cards. They were Malaysia was one of the earliest ports to collect hearts. (see details page 26) of call on Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhajir's current orbit around Earth - Mission - A musical fireside was scheduled for Five Year Plan. every night of the campaign and invitations were distributed freely. The invitations served He arrived on the 8th of March and met as the means for establishing contact with with the National Spiritual Assembly. As the strangers. Pamphlets were only given if Global Plan had not arrived yet, he recom­ interest was shown. The army was reminded mended that a draft plan be made in that enquirers should be touched by the anticipation, and he particularly stressed the spirit of the Faith, and then if they were receptive and wished to accept Baha 'u'llah, need to eliminate a social delay between they could be enrolled as Baha'is. receiving the plan and the beginning of ACTION. Then he left for his next port of call . Throughout the campaign a twenty-four hour prayer vigil was maintained and every After a few days, the long-awaited Five evening when the soldiers returned to base, Year Plan arrived. Dr. Muhajir who was a de-briefing took place. It was always then in Indonesia turned right around and exciting to see how many would turn up flew back to Malaysia and met with the NSA for the musical fireside, but even when the again. His constructive suggestions were all number was only a handful, the beautiful carefully noted, and immediate plans were atmosphere was just the same. An average made to be presented to the community at of fifty to sixty new Baha'is were enrolled the Convention-Conference, when the plan each day that the campaign lasted, and the was to be launched. majority of these new believers were Chinese. Among his suggestions, were that learn­ The spirit released by the institute and ing Chinese should be an obligation every teaching campaign had to be felt to be believed. It propelled itself through the youth should undertake, and that Malay activities during the Youth Conference in Port literature should also be undertaken by the Dickson, reached down to Singapore to the new Publishing Trust with the help of Winter School held there, was carried back Indonesia. The Global Plan only mentions to East Malaysia via the three friends who literature in English, Tamil and Chinese.

14 J\1alavsian Bahci'i N ewtS V ol: O 1Vo.4 Dec. i8-Jiily 74

II 1·h CONVENTION 01: THE H/lHLrlS CJF ML\LL\YSIL\

On the 26th of April, 1974 forty-four A by-election had been held in March delegates and several observers gathered at '7 4 due to the resignation of Dr. M. M. the N.U.B.E. hall at the 8112 milestone Port Sreenivasan owing to personal and unavoid­ Dickson for the Eleventh Convention of the able circumstances. Mr. Choo Yoke Boon Baha 'is of Malaysia which was to be followed had been elected in his place. the next few days by a grand conference to launch the Five Year Plan. This was the Consolidation first time that a convention was being held A major break-through in consolidation outside of the federal capital, the reason was achieved through the assistance of Mr. being that no suitable accommodation could Jenabe Caldwell and his daughter Layli, and be arranged in Kuala Lumpur for the number Mr. and Mrs. Stern of Alaska who co­ that was expected at the conference. ordinated Nine Day Institutes. In Kedah several indepth institutes were held in the In 1972 and '73 the Baha 'is of East Tamil language and their success is a major Malaysia and West Malaysia had elected achievement of the State. separate National Assemblies, but the Universal House of Justice had directed that Correspondence Courses are available this year there was to be only one NSA in English, Tamil and Chinese. for both the regions. (Brunei was not to be considered as part of the home-front but Publications the NSA of Malaysia was to be responsible Pocket-sized prayer books are available for the work in Brunei.) in three languages, Chinese, Tamil and The Convention began at 4-30 p.m. with English. These are given free to all new S. Nagaratnam being elected chairman and believers on their declaration. A small Ganesa Murthi secretary. Among the booklet called Guidance One was also significant events brought to the attention printed in Chinese and English for free of the delegates were the following:- distribution. The Tamil version was not yet ready. A new pamphlet, "Loyalty to Govern­ One Year Plan ment' ' was printed in English and also A teaching plan was launched at the available in Malay. A Tamil deepening beginning of April 1973, with a target of magazine Oli Uthayam is published monthly. 2,700 new believers in Malaysia. The enrol­ ment reached 2323 out of which 919 were Easl· Malaysia Asli believers. The monthly average of The report of the NSA of East Malaysia declarants·- was lower than in the previous was read out by Choo Yoke Boon in the years, but the imbalance of the different absence of any Assembly representative. races had been corrected.

NSA membership Election of NSA Mr. Yin Hong Shuen, on being elected The total number of delegates for East national secretary had given up his job in and West Malaysia was 133, with 73 from Penang and gone to Kuala Lumpur to work. West Malaysia and 60 from East Malaysia.

15 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 7S-J,ul11 74

The total number of ballots received was made up of six members from West Malaysia 119. The results of the elections were and three from Sarawak, East Malaysia, one announced at midnight. The new NSA was of them an lban believer.

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the 13aha'is of Malaysia

Mr. S. Nagaratnam chairman Mr. Choo Yoke Boon Dr. John Fozdar vice-chairman Mr. Maniam Mr. Yin Hong Shuen secretary Dr. Singaraveloo Mr. Isaac D' Cruz treasurer Mr. Ragai anak Lang Mr. Ganesan Murthi asst. secretary

Launching the Fiue Year Plan

A great conference followed the con­ pilation from the House of Justice on the vention in Port Dickson on the week-end of Local Spiritual Assembly. the 27th and 28th of April 1974, to launch General goals were given for all the the Five Year Plan. Around 300 Baha'is of local assemblies throughout the country and which half were Asli friends were present at special extension teaching goals were this conference. assigned to fifty selected assemblies in East and West Malaysia. Certain strong assem­ Workshops were held on the Message blies were given specific tasks such as of the Universal House of Justice to the translations, assisting the Asli committee, World, and also on the Message to Malaysia. assisting Singapore, assisting Thailand, com­ Suggestions and recommendations on how pilation of vernacular songs and developing best to fulfil the goals given to Malaysia musical talent. were made by the participants as they studied The existing set-up of National and the Five Year Plan which was sub-divided State Teaching Committees was changed into different parts for easy reference. to place greater emphasis on the role of The first phase of the Global Plan was the local assembly. In place of the original NTC, three other working groups were presented as a three-month-plan starting appointed - The National Teaching and from the lst of May 1974 and ending on the Proclamation Committee, the National Con­ 31st of July. The objective of the first phase solidation Committee and the Community was to start the process of strengthening and Development Committee. Their terms of developing the Local Spiritual Assemblies reference were taken straight from the Message of the House. all over Malaysia. Part of the programme for deepening the LSAs was the study of With the launching of the Five Year Plan selected subjects which included the Global came a fresh understanding of the role of Plan, Will and Testament of Abdul Bah a, the Local Spiritual Assembly and the star! Tablets of the Divine Plan and the com- of a new era in the country.

16 Dec. 7 .~-J 11ly 74 Ma14?J8ian Baha'i News V ol:9 No.4

Shantha Sundram

Asli friends who were invited to attend then another group, and yet another, until the National Convention to be held on the in all there were 150 Aslis determined to be 26th of April at Port Dickson were requested bright and early for the convention! to be at the Seremban Centre (the National (What's in a day or two?) Asli Headquarters) by the evening of the Pauline 's little stove couldn't cope with 25th. The invitation had been extended to the quantities that had to be cooked so a them only via . their newsletter and not wood fire was made in the yard. Soon through the personal persuasion of any there was enough food to feed the whole travel-teacher, so the number who could contingent. Meanwhile, Isaac dashed off come was unknown. The highest figure at to the Baha'i Centre down the road to send past conventions had been around forty, and out an SOS to the other Seremban friends fhe average number that attended fortnightly who rallied round immediately. Neighbours deepening courses was between twelve and watched in amazement as pillows, mats, fifteen. dishes appeared from everywhere, and soon everyone was fed and bedded, sleeping They arrive . . . . wherever they could find a place to stretch. Pauline was quietly relaxing at home in Seremban on the afternoon of the 23rd, when · Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner had to a group of thirty Asli friends suddenly be prepared for all for the next two days, appeared at the door. Surprise, surprise, and the whole Seremban community partici­ Allah-u-Abha ! Allah-u-Abha ! selamat datang pated - both in cooking and in conducting sila masok, (welcome! please come in), and impromptu courses for the Aslis during this off she hurried to the kitchen to put some unexpected interlude. rice on the fire, knowing full well that they When they finally arrived in Po rt would not have had a meal since they left Dickson for the Convention the first their jungle homes the previous evening, and a nnouncement that Isaac made was to trekked through the night to be at the bus­ appeal for cooks as a relief measure to assist stop by morning. Thirty was a large number the hard-pressed Seremban friends! to cook an emergency meal for, but Pauline could cope. Before it was ready, there was Convention and Conference a general stir outside - Allah-u-Abha! The Aslis were housed at the Sunshine Allah-u-Abha ! Allah-u-Abha ! - and another Camp a few miles away from the Convention twenty smiling tired Aslis all proudly wearing Hall and a special programme arranged for Baha'i badges crowded into their small home. them at the times when they were not with the rest of the group who were immersed More rice in the pot - more sardine tins in workshops on the Five Year Plan. When­ opened . . . . Allah-u-Abha ! Allah-u-Abha ! ever possible, joint sessions were held and another forty friends from the jungle arrived, they particularly enjoyed the social night.

17 i\fulaygian Baha'i N ews Vol:.fJ No.4 Dec. 78-Jul·y 74

Many of the Aslis had never met a single Baha'i outside of their jungle villages as they had accepted the Faith entirely through the teaching activity of other Asl is . Th is Conference was there­ fore a really great event in their lives, as they were able to witness for themselves the reality of the unity and love about which they had only heard before. The Five Year Plan was explained to them and they pledged to give the Message to other tribes who lived deep in the jungle. When the call for funds was made, they clustered together in a group for consultation, and most of them literally emptied their pockets of their last cent (total of about ninety-eight dollars). So great was their desire to contribute for the Faith, that in the end, these simple people had to ask the National Treasurer to assist them with a few dollars to cover their transport back to the fringes of the jungle, from where some of them would have to trudge for a few days before they reached their villages. All of them had also paid their own expenses to come for the Convention. The Aslis went home with unforgettable memories of their meeting with the friends, and the rest of the Baha'is returned with lessons learned from them of faith and sacrifice.

(Isaac D'Cruz is chairman of the Asli Committee and his wife Pauline usually cooks for the Asli courses which are held in Seremban every fortnight. - Ed.)

Photos from top to bottom:

1. Some of the Asli travel-teachers who came to the Ridvan Conference at Port Dickson.

2. Members of the National Asli Committee. From left to right: Lily Ng, Rama Naidu, Nagendran, Isaac, G.A. Naidu, Yong, Sattanam, Tan, Lawrence. (Missing Pauline D'Cruz. 3. 18 penghulus (chiefs) attended the Conference and many deputy penghulus (not in the photo). 4. Happy group of volunteers who cooked and served the Asli friends during the Conference at Port Dickson, April 26-28, 1974.

18 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.I. .. Dec: ra~Jm11 · 74

• lVhat's Happening ID Singapore Winter School and Musical Fireside - Th e yo uth orga nised a successf ul blood The Penang singing group came down donation campa ign . from Malaysia in December just before the A teaching conference was arra ng ed by Winter School and a mu sical fireside was · the NTC and a three-day institute was quickly arranged. A team immediately went conducted in Tamil in January, co-ordinated round distributing invitations and it was so by Muniandy. Another institute was held in nice to receive phone calls from people English in June, co-ordinated by Lena Tan . inquiring what a musical fireside was. We Hand of the Cause, Dr. Muhajir met with told them to come and find out . ... About the National Assembly and discussed the Five fifteen came and seven became Baha 'is. Year Plan which was released at Naw Ruz . The Winter School was a smal l and A detail plan was drawn up. happy one held at the Tanah Merah Holiday Camp from 26-29 of December. A public National Convention performance of the musical team was The National Convention was held at arranged at the bandstand of the MacRitchie the Baha'i Centre on the 27 and 28th April , Park after the Summer School. 1974. The new National Assembly was elected by 19 delegates. Teaching Campaigns Intensive teaching trips were organized N.S.A. of Singapore - Ridvan '74 by the N.T.C. in Geylang and Stamford but Mr. Freddy Tan - Chairman in spite of all the campaigns organized in Mr. Robin Maule - Vice Chairman both areas, Stamford and Geylang still did Mrs. Rose Ong - Secretary not have enough adults to form LS.As. Mr. Teo Geok Leng - Treasurer During all these teaching trips we had Mrs. Lena Tan - Asst. Secretary 37 declarations but most were youths. Members: Mr. Kenneth Mak, Mr. Edward Teo, Mr. Muniandy, Mr. Henry Ong. Other Activities During the lntercalary Days, the NSA (In July, Kenneth Mak, working in the arranged for a visit to a Home for the Aged Foreign Service, was posted to Indonesia, where the Baha'is were warmly welcomed and Lily Ng of Malaysia, pioneering in and the Message given along with biscuits. Singapore, was elected onto the NSA).

Friends gathered at Tanah Merah Holiday Camp Singapore for the Winter School.

19 MaJ.a.ysian Baha'i N ews Vol:9 No.4 Du. 7$-Jvly 74

THE WORK-OUT OF SINGAPORE'S FIVE YEAR PLAN

1. Establish an LSA in each of the civil administrative divisions of the country. Singapore is divided into eight Municipal districts:- Bukit Panjang, Macpherson, Queenstown, Serangoon, Katong, Tanglin, Stamford, Geylang. (a) During the l st year - the National Assembly will consolidate and strengthen the existing 6 Local Assemblies - Bukit Panjcmg, Macpherson, Queenstown, Serangoon, Katong, and Tanglin so that each Assembly will work on its own without outside help. (b) During the second year to see to the establishment of the seventh local assembly, and in the third year, the eighth local assembly should be formed. 2. Incorporate the National Spiritual Assembly This goal to be accomplished by the end of BE 131. 3. Raise the number of incorporated Local Spiritual Assemblies to four To start inquiries immediately after the National Assembly is incorporated, and try to incorporate two LSAs in the third year and another two the following year. 4. Acquire a national endowment The National Assembly took into consideration that the value of land in Singapore has gone up tremendously, but will look into the possibility of acquiring a small plot anywhere in Singapore, even in the surrounding islands - during the third year. 5. Develop in accordance with the needs of the expansion and consolidation work, a program fo1· the translation and publication of Baha'i literature in Chinese, assisted by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bah a'is of Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan. (l) to establish a co-ordinating committee in consultation with the Continental Board. (2) The co-ordinating committee to hold a meeting with representatives from Hong Kong. (3) to translate l 0 books; 3 of which must be the Holy Writings. 5 to be published. 6. Hold a major National Teaching Conference to which you should invite believers from South Eastern Asia The N.S.A. proposed to hold a major National Teaching Conference sometime in early November 1977, and will consull· with neighbouring assemblies on this matter. 7. Greatly increase the number of believers, endeavouring to reach all sections of the population, particularly those of divers backgrounds. It was proposed that the number of believers be raised to 800 in the first year, then progressively increased each year till 5000 was reached by the end of the Plan. 8. In the field of international co-operation your community is privileged to assist various NSAs in their teaching work in countries where large numbers of people of Chinese origin reside. At present we are sadly lacking in Chinese-speaking teachers - but will use and develop the talents of our few believers.

20 Malayltian Bah4'i Newa Vol:9 No.4 ·Dec. 78-Jvl11 14

NEWS FRO~I SARAWAK New deepening method The biggest thing that has happened in East Malaysia is the institute method of deepening introduced by Jenabe Caldwell and launched at the Nine Day Institute in Kuching in December '73. The NSA followed up with a series of institutes and the effect on our Baha'is who have attended them has been very encouraging. There are of course some, who although inspired al' firs!', do not carry on from there but fall back into their old lethargy and inactivity. On the whole however we found things began to happen. The first Nine Day Institute which we conducted on our own, ran into initial difficulties due to our inexperience, but Friends in Miri out teaching. proved to be a great success bringing happiness and inspiration to all participants. Baha'i Centres are coming up every­ Many joined the mass-teaching effort which where. Requests for Institutes from many followed immediately afterwards, and Miri assemblies show us how meaningful and has been able to elect a Local Spiritual welcome has been this new approach to Assembly for the first time thanks to our deepening among the native believers, own little "Army of Light". although many of them are illiterate. reported by ABM Grete Fozdar Three-day Institutes held in various parts of the country have also resulted in a deepen­ ing of the native believers, and some local National Teaching Committee assemblies show a high degree of maturity for East Malaysia when handling problems, and many send out Dr. J. K. Fozdar (Chairman) teachers to both open up new areas as well Mr. G. Kuppusamy (Vice Chairman) as assist others. Mr. Maniam (Secretary) Mr. Lim Pun Huat (Treasurer) Mr. Tan Hock Siew, Mr. Sapong, Mr. Sampai, Mr. Ragai, Mr. Vishnupatham.

NSA meets in Sarawak For the first time a meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia was held in Kuching, on July 29 and 30. Three members, Nagaratnam, Ganesan and Isaac D'Cruz attended from W. Malaysia, and they were able to participate in Summer Schools and conferences, and to visit different com­ Army o~ light in Sibu, with Sibu friends at the Baha'i munities in East Malaysia. Centre, January '74.

21 Afola11sian Ba/l,a' i N ews Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 73-./uly 74

News-briefs from tremendously successful and a source of great inspiration to the Baha'is in all the towns Surat Gawi 19 Hari visited. (19 Day Feast Letter of East Malaysia) Publicity Follow-up mass-teaching campaigns The Unit Convention which was held in East Malaysia launched into successful Kuching on the 14th-15th of April, was teaching-campaigns which started in Decem­ attended by over a hundred Baha'is, and a photograph appeared in the Sarawak ber '73 and continued for over three months. Eighteen friends took part in the project Tribune. Also mentioned in the news was the information that "Similar Regional Con­ which followed the Nine Day Institute and ventions have already been held during the Winter School. There was continuous March and April in Limbang, Mukah, Marudi, teaching, and visiting of old Baha 'is through Kapit, Sibu and Betong." eleven towns in Sarawak from Kuching to Lutong and as far into the interior as Kapit. Inter-community exchange programme The small band led by pioneer Kuppusamy The Area Teaching Committee of consisted of youths from Kuching and Kapit Sebangan sub-district, collaborating with and were joined by other Baha'i friends from local assemblies in the area devised a new Sibu and Dalat, in parts of the programme. method to bring interest into their children's classes. Under this system nineteen Baha'is There were two intensive campaigns who have been teaching children's classes which lasted for nine days each, in Sibu and were selected and posted to teach for two or Miri supported by round-the-clock prayer three days in a village other than their own vigils. In Sibu, the friends were amazed to under a "teacher's exchange programme". find enquirers flowing into the Baha'i Centre Through this method they have improved the and accepting the Faith. Every evening standard of children's classes. enjoyable musical fire sid es were held. There A later issue of the newsletter reported were aboui' thirty new declarants in Sibu and that the ATC of Sebangan again selected fifteen in Miri . Although the numbers were youths for its exchange programme, this time not large, the Faith was made known to a total of thirty-one were chosen and not most of the residents especially in· Miri. for two or three days but for a period of Schools were visited during the campaign two months. It was most heartening to note both to teach and to encourage the Baha 'is that a good number were girls. there to be firm . The whole campaign was (continued on page 44)

Some of the friends who attended the Winter School in Kuching.

22 Mala11sian Baha'i News l'ol: 9 No.4 Dec. 78-Ji

Victor Greenspoon

In answer to an S 0 S from the Area Teaching Committee of South Thailand a team of Malaysians under the direction of NSA member Isaac D' Cruz, crowded into a packed third-class railway coach and headed for Songkhla. Counsellor Yankee Leong who was just recovering from an operation, Auxiliary Board Members Shahin Azadeh from the Philippines and Maha Bousi from laos who had just attended a conference in Kuala Lumpur also took part in the teaching campaign, as well as Carmen Rab ena from Laos. Altogether 14 Malaysians participated including Elan Oovan, one of our resident pioneers in Thailand.

Who could have imagined the wonderful to ou r nightly musical fireside, guitars and joy and intensity, and the glorious results as prayerbooks, we headed for the scenic and the youthful Army of Light started gathering gentle Songkhla Beach Park, bordering the for its majestic spiritual assault upon the frothy edge of the Gulf of Siam. Soon the inhabitants of the province of Songkhla. As strollers and passers-by were being attracted that early day in April drew nearer, by the melodic and vibrant music of this anticipation and determination, faith and racially-mixed group - Chinese, Indian, despair, filled our hearts as we scurried about Thai, Lao, Philippine, Persian and Jewish. making the never-ending preparations. The next morning, we returned to the same crea, and situated ourselves under a centrally­ Even before the battalion of wonderful located pavilion where, it happened, a month Malaysian troops arrived, we lost little time previously, we had sat and earnestly prayed in proclaiming the Message. On streets and for God's assistance. At the end of our on buses, the people of Songkhla began to hear the first whisperings about the Faith that soon turned into a mighty roar. ·

At last our friends from the south arrived, soon to be followed by a stream of additional recruits. It was a joyous reunion - even with friends we had never met before, we felt reunited.

We spent a good portion of the first day praying, studying the Holy Writings about teaching the Faith, and consulting about tactics. Prayer soon became an integral part of ou r assault, of ou r lives, for the next seven days. We were keen to get started that very afternoon. Armed with pamphlets, invitations Olan a Thai Baha'i youth of Songkhla making posters

23 Malaysian Baha'i N ews Vol: 9 N o.4 Dec. 73-Ju ly 71, prayers, one of us had remarked how nice it would be if a loud-speaker could be mounted at that spot to proclaim the Message. Little did we imagine that, a month later, 25 loud and joyous speakers would be filling the air with such glad tidings!

The next morning, we were off for Hadyai. While waiting for the train that would take us back to Songkhla, all the people, waiting for trains, heard of the Faith. The long lines, queuing to buy tickets, were drawn like by a magnet towards the lively mvsic and excitement. One of those at the station who heard about Baha'u 'llah, drove that very evening, with her brother and two friends, the 26 kms to the fireside in Songkhla, and declared themselves as Baha'is.

In the few days that followed, we sang, gave talks, and chatted with small groups or with individuals at the Technical College, Nursing School, College of Education, Teachers College, private commercial schools and at the Prince of Songkhla University.

The campaign culminaled with a con­ ference at the Samila Hotel to which hundreds of people from village and town, young and old, new Baha'is, old ones and inquirers all came for a comprehensive presentation of the Faith through songs, slides and talks.

As the last guests were leaving, we raced to catch taxis to speed the musical group to the T.V. station in Hadyaai. That night, for the first time in Thailand, the Faith was presented on television throughout all Captions for photos: of Southern Thailand and "Ya-Baha 'u'l-Abha " 1. Singing on T.V. in Hadyaai. This was the first filled the airways for a radius of hundreds appearance of the Malaysian musical group on T.V. of miles. The programme was also viewed 2. Part of the audience at the closing conference, held by many people on the Malaysian side of at the Samila Hotel. the border. · By the end of the campaign 3. Malaysian youth teaching in the campus of the Prince of Songkhla University. one hundred and sixteen new brothers and 4. Mrs. Benjamat at table, signing her declaration sisters had found their Baha'i family, and card. She drove all the way from Hadyaai to thousands of others had heard of the Faith. attend the fireside in Songkhla.

24 Malaysian Baha'i N ews Vo!:9 No.4 Dec. iS-Ju!y 71,

Fruits of the Institute Teaching Campaign

Batu Maung Before the army of light invaded Batu Maung on the S.E. coast of Penang, it was

just a small fishing village of little con­ Some Members of the LSA of Batu Maung addressing sequence, occasionally visited by tourists. a gathering after Ridvan '74. But ever since it was declared a target area quite amazing as they were the orthodox of the teaching campaign, it has loomed type of Chinese. large on the Baha 'i map of the island. In Batu Maung itself, some of the new Years ago the Penang believers tried to Baha 'is have guided the friends to other open up the village but met with such little response from the busy fishermen that they fishing villages on the island where their gave up their visits. Now obviously, prayers relatives are living. Telok Bahang on the had changed the atmosphere there, because N.W. coast of Penang is one of the villages when the teaching teams poured into the thus opened up. village, they were welcomed with smiles and Deepening all these new believers is no rewarded with declarations. It was parti­ easy task as they are Chinese-speaking and cularly exciting because the village was largely illiterate, but the spirit is lovely and entirely Chinese. consolidation is slowly but steadily taking The success of a campaign however, is place in many different ways - In return for 0 not in the number who sign cards. Baha 'is hospita I ity at Georgetown Centre, the Batu have learnt this from sad experience, so the Maung Baha'is have invited the friends to follow-up was planned with care and con­ go fishing with them on their trawlers, so cern. It was soon discovered that consolida­ fishing trips and island picnics, (complete tion was not going to be easy because the with enquirers) form pa'rt of the teaching villagers came from two different groups, and consolidation programme of the Penang the inshore fishermen who live in Batu Maung Baha 'is. (Any pioneer offers for Penang?!) village and the trawler fishermen who live on their boats anchored off the coast, and whose homes are in the far-off island of Pangkor, in the state of Perak. A visit to Pangkor Island during the Chinese New Year holidays brought over­ whelming rewards. The trawler fishermen had returned home to be with their families and they were delighted that the Baha 'is had come all the way to visit them. They gave them a really warm welcome and many Youth from Georgetown and Glugor with some of the of their families became Baha 'is, which was Baha'is of Batu Maung on a "fishing fireside" trip.

25 Mnlausian Baha'i N ew• Vol: 9 N o.4 Dec . 73- J ulu 74

TEACHING TIPS . . .. ,. . Taken from sessions during the nine-day institute in Penang co-ordinated by Jenabe Caldwell. These guide-lines are based on selected writings of Abdu'I Baha, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. They were put into practice during the teaching campaign that followed the Institute. ( see page 12 )

Prepare you1·self with prayers before undertaking Speak about prayer, and give the new declarant a any mass-teaching project. Remember it is prayer book. If possible pray with him or make Baha'u'll ah who is going to guide you; by yourself, him read a prayer himself. nothing can be achieved. A continuous prayer-vigil should be maintained while the campaign is on. Invite him to join in teaching if possible. Remember W hile out in the field, when one person is teaching that if he prays, he is safe; if he teaches he is the rest should be praying, quietly and unobstrusi vely, confirmed. but praying all the time. Be happy, be happy, be happy. Do not collect cards, collect hearts. Declarations should not be forced. Teaching should be enthusias­ tic, but not fanatical. Tips for team members New declarants must become basically informed about Once a team leader has been appointed, his decisions I the Central Figures of the Fa ith as w ell as the are final. (This is not the pl ace for consultation, existence of laws they must follow, and an admini­ which may cause confusion whi le the army is in the tration they must obey. Give each new believer a copy frontline). The leader is also responsible for keeping . of Guidance One and go through the little booklet the team happy under all conditions! with him. This is his first deepening. To maintain the spirit of unity, no special privileges Give the Message as a gift to a king. should be available to any individuals (except for Do not argue with the person you are trying to illness) . If sacrifice is called for, then all share teach. (:ontention is absolu tely for bidden. the hardship - one eats, al l eat - one starves, Teach everybody, but, if a person does not respond all starve! positively to the Message, do not press him. Stay together as much as possible. Do not stray Remember Abdu'l-Baha' s warning about disinterested off from the area designated for the group. Thi s or antagonistic ·people.* helps to reinforce the spirit. Ask a person about his religious background, it makes it easy to start talking. If problems arise, they should not be discussed among the team members, but reported to the captain . Photo albums can be used as an effective teaching aid. Every Baha'i in the field is an ambassador of Do not speak about politics. Baha'u'llah...... Remember Guardian's caution Keep to the teachings of Baha'u 'll ah and avoid against "frivolous conduct and easy familiarity". giving personal opinions. (ref er ADJ ,pa.ge 25) Mention the name cif Baha'u'llah as many times as The spirit that should permeate the team is summed possible. Do not presume that the s eeker will be up in the following words of Abdu'l-Baha:- prejudiced by His Name. Rem ember the nine-poin t plan. • * " Be thoughtful concerning your ow n spiritual develop­ ment and close your eyes to the shortcomings of one Those who declare themselves as Baha'is s hou ld ;mother". ( B fl1 F 71ag e 366) become enchanted with the beauty of the Teachings and touched by the love of Baha' u'll ah. (for team strategy see page 14)

* " ...... But people who have not the capacity, no matter how much one explains the Divine behests and advices, or breathes the breath of the Holy Spirit, it will not make any effect; nay, rather they add to their hardness and heedlessness." (Refer Baha'i W orld F aith page 364)

**Nine points; Baha'u'llah .came, Baha'u'llah came, Baha'u'llah came, Bahii:' u'l,lah came, Baha'u'llah came, Baha'u'llah came, oneness .. qf God, oneness ·of religion, oneness of man. .In other wor.ds, instead of simply explaining the Baha'i Teachings, try, if possible, to introduce each ·new concept by saying ' that Baha'u'llah came and taught us...... There is power in .the . Great .~st Name'. . · · . _), ' I 26 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 79-July 74

Letter from the Universal House of Justice to . the Youth of Malaysia Beloved friends, We take great pleasure in addressing the youth of your country who have such a distinguished record in the annals of our Faith . Your heritage is great and your future is highly promising, as you are possessed of both devotion and ability. We point with pride to your record of service in both your country and abroad in South-eastern Asia and on the continent of Africa. We pray that this Conference will reinforce the noble spirit which has impelled you to such heights of service and that you will devote yourselves unceasingly to teaching other youth in the universities, assisting the National Spiritual Assembly with the teach­ ing work in both the Eastern and the Western parts of Malaysia, while actively engaging yqur Asli Baha'i brethren in all these activities. As you are now united may you remain sd in spirit when you go forth to gain your objectives dnd win the victories which will surely be yours if you unfailingly rely upon the aid of Baha'u'llah. We shall offer prayers at the Sacred Threshold that each one of you may be enabled to nobly serve the Cause, contributing that full measure which edch can give. ' With Loving Baha'i 0reetings, The Universal House. of Justice.

~ati"nal ~outh eon!erence· ':December' 73

We were driving back to Kuala Lumpu r It is true I was o bit sce ptical about things when I asked a youth beside me· what he like world unity; Baha'i love and all that, felt about the Conference he · had just but these doubts have all vanished . .. . " attended. He looked up, beamed and Th is youth had become a Baha 'i only replied, "I am glad you asked. Actually I five days before, and had most reluctantly was dying to tell someone about this wonder­ agreed to attend this Confer ~n ce . ful new expe_rience .1 have just been through. ; Really it is a feeling I just cannot describe. * You know, ·all at once I could feel thaf The National Baha 'i Youth Conference Baha'i sp irit I have always been told about. held in Port Dickson on ·20th to 23 rd Malaysian. Baha'i N ews Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 79-July 74

(Youth Conference continued)

Workshops at the youth conference on the messages from the Universal House of Justice.

December 1973 was an occasion many youths Workshops and adults won 't forget in a hurry. It proved The inspiring message from the Universal to the Malaysian community that our youths House of Justice - the first one addressed could rise to new responsibilities and fresh directly to the Malaysian youth was studied challenges. They had been given the at workshops the next day, and plans made challenge of raising enough money to to extend youth activities. The presence of finance the whole Conference. They swung two Counsellors, Dr. Chellie Sundram and into action and their contributions earned Firaydun Mithaqiyan contributed to the through much hard work and sacrifice success of the Conference. exceeded the budget. A record number of Musical Fi reside sixty, out of the existing sixty-six youth A highlight of the Conference was a committees in the country were represented musical fireside held on the third night at a at the Conference. New faces, familiar school hall about eight miles from the Con­ faces, young faces and old faces. All happy ference. Describing that event, one youth faces and all smiles. exclaimed - "It was unbelievable! The whole town was on fire! A few enquirers accepted The Conference was held at the Baha 'u'llah without a single question!" National Union of Bank Employees Bui lding, Another youth, an enquirer during the fire­ si tuated on a hill facing the Straits of Malacca side, but a very active believer now, said, with a lovely stretch of sandy beach. It "I don't know what came over me. I felt was a beautiful setting. Aux. Board Member, like crying. All those wonderful songs of Mr. I. Chinniah declared open- the Con­ love, joy and peace . ... I just had to become ference while the Chairman of the National a Baha'i." About seventy enquirers attended Baha'i Youth Committee officially welcomed the fireside of which fifty declared. the friends. Messages and cables came in from all over the world. Foreign countries The Pledge represented were Alaska, Australia, New Most of us who attended. the Conference Zealand, Singapore, East Malaysia and Hong will also not forget the dedication programme Kong . A camp-fire by the beach added to on the last day, when the youth arose and the glamour and delight of the evening. together took a pledge that they will arise

28 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.!, Dec. 73--Ju!y 74

even more dramatically to fulfil the goals of the Five Year Plan. It was a memorable ceremony, and many were emotionally moved. A few youths quietly left the hall to wipe their eyes. The pledge was later sent to the Supreme Body in the form of a hand­ lettered scroll. A beautiful reply was received later from the House - Quote:-

" . ... The beloved youth in your com­ munity did indeed succeed in their wish to gladden the hearts of the members of the Musical group at the conference. Universal House of Justice. The pledge they made was read to the groups of pilgrims when it was received by the Universal House Postscripl· of Justice. It is especially noteworthy that The group who came in through the such a high percentage of the total number musical fireside at the Conference did not fall of local youth committees were represented away after the campaign, but an active corp at the recent Conference. We were proud remained over the months and an LBYC was and happy to learn that the beloved youth formed. Two of them were elected to the themselves financed this large gathering and LSA of Port Dickson this Ridvan, and the greatly admired this display of their res ­ youth have formed a musical group. Nine ponsible attitude. of them went down recently to Seremban to help in · their public teaching campaign, We are ardently supplicating that the and performed at the musical fireside on the magnificient services of the youth in Malaysia 29th and 30th of June. One is going for may continue to increase and may be in­ short-term pioneering to Singapore and creasingly blessed by the Blessed Perfection." Sarawak. With loving Baha 'i greetings, Universal House of Justice

* * * The success of a conference can only be judged by its results, and the immediate results were dramatic, as the teaching campaigns brought 1n a few hundred believers - but that was under Malaysia's One Year Plan .. . .

We are now under the Global Plan of the Universal House of Justice and our pledge A group of Port Dickson youth, most of whom had of action has been given . . . . May our become Baha'is during the fireside at the Youth deeds speak louder than our words. Conference. This photo was taken at the Ridvan S. Balasekeran, secretary NBYC. Conference which they attended four months later ...

29 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol: 9 No.4 Dec. NJ-Jul11 ·i".11

"Lift up your hearts above the present and look with eyes of faith into the future. Today the seed is sown, the grain falls upon the earth, but behold the day will come when it shall rise a glorious tree and the branches thereof shall be laden with fruit." Abdu'l-Baha. (The R eality of Man)

Alaska. During the night sessions, friends CONSOLIDATION INSTITUTE were divided into groups of nine, and problems of consolidation were given to Breathes there a community that hasn't them to solve as though they were an LSA. cried out at sometime - "What we need is consolidation."! The institute ended after dinner on the third night with each participant writing down But what constitutes consolidation? - his personal pledge towards consolidation. Deepening classes? Attendance at Feasts? All had come to a realisation that the name Institutes? Fellowship? Some communities of the game was PATIENCE and that there have tried a few methods, others have tried was no set way to consolidate . ... Abdul­ all, some with outstanding success and others Baha has told us that "The first thing to do with depressing results. What is the missing is to acquire a ·thirst for spirituality, then factor? live the life! Live the Life! Live the Life."

The National Spi ritual Assembly was "Faith is the mc:ignet which draws the considering an institute to study the problem confirmation of the Merciful One. Service of consolidation, that hopefully a solution is the magnet which attracts the heavenly would be found. Just at that time, Mr. and strength. I hope thou wilt attain both." Mrs. Stern, travel-teachers from Alaska were Abdu'l-Baha. (Tab. Vol. 1) visiting Malaysia and offered their Baha'i services in any capacity. They were requested to co-ordinate a consolidation Nine-day institute institute. They had never done it before, but they agreed. Mr. and Mrs. Stern also conducted a nine-day deepening institute at Cameron Thirty friends from North Malaysia Highlands at the request of the National attended. The Institute which was arranged Spiritual Assembly. It was attended by in Penang on the l st-3rd of March, was seventeen Baha'is from all over Malaysia held at the Baha'i Centre of Glugor where including several Penang University students. all the participants stayed. The programme started with breakfast at 6-00 a.m. on the first day of the Fast. It was different from other institute courses, in that there were "stretch-breaks" instead of tea and coffee breaks, and siesta-time for two hours instead of a lunch break.

The thirty friends were divided into two groups, co-ordinated by Mr. and Mrs. Stern. A selection of quotations from the Writings pertaining to consolidation was the basis of the study and discussion. The selection had Consolidation Institute held in Penang March 1-3. Mr. been compiled by the National Assembly of Stern seated centre, and Mrs. Stern second from left.

30 Malaysian. Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dae. 79-July 74

At the gateway of China, the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Hong Kong and Macau was elected during Ridvan '74 graced by the presence of Amatu'l Baba Ruhiyyih Khanum.

The following report was written by Lawrence Ip, were very honoured that the Universal the young secretary of the newly elected Assembly. House of Justice had sent Amatul Baha to Many days before that great day, I took be at our Convention. Chester Lee and I all my holidays, seventeen days, to get things did the translations into Cantonese. ready. Everyone was so excited and so busy. There were Counsellors and Auxiliary Many of us could not sleep for worrying Board members present from both the N.E. about everything. James Liew was such a and S.E. Asian Zones and a representative help. of the NSA of N.E. Asia under whose Everyone was so happy. We had jurisdiction Hong Kong and Macau have booked the Conference hall on top of the been all these years. Mandarin Hotel for the Convention. Nearly Our newly elected National Assembly one hundred Baha'is were present. Really we was indeed fortunate that Amatu 'I Baha was able to spend sometime in Hong Kong and meet with us during Assembly sessions. She gave us so much precious advice and encouraged us a lot; she also presented us with a sacred and priceless gift for our national archives - a framed lock of Baha'u'llah's hair. Everyone was inspired and we will never forget this historical period. As I write this report, that wonderful Convention is just a memory. Now we are Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Hong faced with reality and we have so many Kong and Macau with Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum problems ahead of us. Hong Kong is not and Counsellor Yan Kee Leong (holding Abdul Baha's an easy place to live the Baha'i life, but picture) Seated left, Chester Lee, Lachmi Datwani, Baha'u'llah will surely guide us. right, Thomas Lane. Standing left to right Gian Datwani, Charles Duncan, K.H. Attar, Lawrence Ip, H. Azizi and David Mockon. Lawrence Ip

Our Pioneers in Hong Kong enthusiasm as he had just conducted an all­ Happenings in Hong Kong are of Chinese workshop and was thrilled at the special interest to Malaysians as under the response of the local people. "Things are Five Year Plan she has to send a constant moving again and what's more important stream of travel-teachers there. At present is that we are getting the real people of we have one pioneer in Hong Kong, James this place" wrote James. "We have been Liew of lpoh who went there in January '74 having a few declarations at our firesides and hopes to serve for a year or two. His and you can imagine our joy after the fluent Cantonese and his knowledge of initial drought - At last our prayers administration have been most useful. James' have made the right co.nnection up there. most recent letter was full of hope and . Ya-Baha-ul-Abha !"

31 Malaysian Baha'i N ews Vol:9 No.I, Dec. 7/J-JtJJy 74

NEWS ABOUT OUR PIONEERS

THAILAND LAOS A few months before Malaysia's one­ Our young pioneer in Laos, A Kanna­ year-plan ended she was able to fulfil a bran, was appointed as an Auxiliary Board promise made to the NSA of Thailand, and Member in March '74, and Counsellor send two pioneers there. They were Goviden Firaydun Mithaqiyan has paid a glowing of Malacca (formerly serving in Singapore) tribute to him and to Malaysia. He wrote and Elan Govan, a youth from Aler Star. that Kanno has moved among the villagers and the tribes with such understanding and News has been received from Thailand that humility that he has won the love of the they were posted for brief periods in various youth, the children and the adults for whom places, and served with initiative and he has organised many classes and gather­ devotion. ings. Serving on National Committees he has travelled throughout the country and At present Govinden has been settled composed and taught Baha'i songs in the in Nakhorn Sawan, where he has been active Lao language. His teaching albums, posters in the Teacher's College, and in a short and other visual aids are widely used time several students have accepted the Faith. throughout Laos. Elon Govan (Allan to his friends) is now TAIWAN stationed in Udorn in N.E. Thailand. He is After many months of waiting for a shouldering a great responsibility in that visa, our young pioneer to Taiwan, Chang area, and as a member of the NTC and Chee Ping of Butterworth finally left for the ATC of the Northeast, has to travel much. Taipei in July '74. He hopes to do full­ He has visited all the old communities and time Baha'i work for a year, and to try managed to re-activate the ATC and many and extend his stay indefinitely if circum­ old believers. stances allow.

Some of the sixty friends_ who attended the fi~st Baha'i Youth ln1tltute In Luang Prabang, Laos, December 1973. ABM Kannabran seated extreme left. 32 Alala11oia10 Baha'i N etcs V ol: 9 No.4 Dec. 78--lvly 74

Our pioneers in "On the first day of Ridvan, I was sent to a place called Khulka in the company of Banglad~sb a local friend who had opened up this area during the 'liberation war'. He told me a Early this year, Malaysia was able to story of how two Baha'is who were teaching there at that time, had to escape and seek fulfil another goal of her one-year-plan and refuge in a nearby village called Fuethala. send two pioneers to Bangladesh, Joe When they entered this village they were Swaminathan of Kuala Lumpur who left in January 74 and Sunny Lim Beng Joo, a youth welcomed by a lady who said that she had of Penang who joined him in March. had a dream in which she was told to give shelter to two people who would come with Teaching in Bangladesh has presented a message: The whole village later became them with many new challenges, as 70 million Baha'i. I met the friends in Fuethala and of the population there is Muslim. they were a lovely group. Really the ways of Baha'u'llah are wondrously mysterious. Both of them have been posted in several different villages and have many "We also visited the nearby town of experiences to tell of the difficult conditions Jessore and here we met a dedicated person under which the people live. Their own by the name of Aziz. He was a simple main problem is the language barrier, trishaw man, but a very tactful and wise although they are struggling to pick teacher. He had prepared four souls, of up Bengali. They did intensive pre-Ridvan whom two accepted the Faith as soon as we teaching but only succeeded in re-electing confirmed the teaching which Aziz had given fifteen out of twenty-one local assemblies. them. One was a teacher and the other Joe had an interesting tale to tell - quote: a mulla."

Amatul-Baha Ruhiyylh Khanum with the friends In Dacca when she visited Bangladesh in early June '74. She Is dressed In sari seated between Voilet Nakhjavanl (holding the Greatest Name) and Counsellor Shirin Boman.

33 Malayaian Baha'i Newa Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 7$-Ju!y 74

Meeting with the Prime Minister Bangladesh so we hurried back to Dacca and Sunny and Joe were greatly privi leged had the bounty of her presence for a week. to have been included by the NSA in the She honoured us personally with an invitation official delegation of nine Baha 'is that paid to dinner and leH such an impression on us a courtesy call on the Honourable Prime of the need to go out and teach, that Minister of Bangladesh after the National we have been really busy ever since. Convention. They were led by Counsellor I am preparing charts for the tribes as the Shirin Boman, and the interview lasted almost NSA is going to send us to the Chittagong an hour. Hills where the tribes are mosl' receptive. " (quoted from Joe Swaminathan's letter June '74) Bombay Conference Postscript: Later information was received Their mosl' exciting happ ~ ning was to in July from Sunny, quote: "Joe is in have been able to attend and meel' Ruhiyyih Chittagong and I will be joining him soon Khanum at the conference in Bombay in May 74. They had been dreaming about to carry on our tribal teaching work. It is this event ever since they heard about it, not easy - partly due to lack of workers but they needed a miracle to get there and partly to the rain which never stops. because a railway strike loomed as a large We are happy to say that one tribal insurmountable obstacle. LSA has been formed and two new localities Eventually by the "direct assistance of opened up. The Prince of the tribes, a well­ Baha'u'llah" they were able to make it on educated man, has promised to help us, and the very first train to reach Bombay, after we are praying that we may be able to open ten days of a strike which lasted for three up the Hill Tracts, just like in Malaysia." weeks. Wli~~ The reception at the Bombay Airport for Ruhiyyih Khanum was fantastic. A tent Malaysians in India had been erected in front of the Airport and There are at present about 20 Malaysians over 300 Baha'is awaited her arrival ! in India, some who went as pioneers, others as students and some who became Baha'is A letter from our pioneers described over there. Most of them are actively the wave of joy that passed through the serving on committees and assemblies. Five crowd when she arrived, and their descrip­ are currently on the State Teaching Com­ tion continued as follows, "The friends were mittees of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka lined up to meel' her and when we were and three were elected delegates to the introduced as Malaysian pioneers she Annual Convention in Delhi this Ridvan. Nine declared, 'Oh, Malaysian pioneers - they Malaysians were privileged to be at the need no introduction - they are like this! " (pointing her thumb upwards). We were so grand Conference in Bombay in June 74 surprised and we beamed in delight but we when beloved Ruhiyyih Khanum was present. also suddenly realised how much . the local Malaysian pioneers in India were people expected of us . ... greatly honoured recently when the con­ tinental Board of Counsellors, through their "The conference itself was of course Auxiliary Boards, appointed K. Krishnan and wonderful. There were over six hundred Sree Ganesh as Assistant Auxiliary Board friends there, many of whom had come from Members, for Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Arabia and Iran. You can imagine how it would have been. . During . the . latter Joe Swaminathan was appointed pari· of the Bombay Conference, we Assistant Auxiliary Board Member in learnt that Ruhiyyih Khanum was going to Bangladesh. ·

34 Ma/.a.ysian Baha' i. N ews Vo l:!J No ..'i D ec. 73- Juty 71,

The longest teaching tour m Tamil N adu

repo1·t >e d by K. K rishnan

India has the largest Baha'i the front line. Soon work began in earnest. population in the world, but Tamil Books were a rranged. Pamphlets stamped N adu in the south (approximately and made ready. A banner hoisted in the the size of Malaysia) is almost a centre of the town. One team went scouting virgin area for the Faith, except for fo r reporters and public libraries. Cards a few places. Although the literacy were despatched to the Baha'i s and we rate is comparitively high, the people stormed the city with all our resources and are still or thodox, and teaching here the materials we had carried with such is not easy. difficulty. Slides were placed in five theatres. All-India Radio announced our An intensive teaching campaign code­ a rrival. We met the Governor and Mayor named "Operation Locomotive" was sug­ and presented them with books. gested a year ago by Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhajir. The plan was to travel by train Where to after Pondicherry? At the wherever possible in order to keep down station we were told that the train for expenses and also make it easier for future Mayuram was cancelled due to shortage of consol idation. Preparation for this project coal. So we loaded on to a bus and after a had taken several months and finally the whole day of travelling, changing bus to train blew to a start at Egmore Station, train and then train to bus, and horse-carts Madras, at 8-25 p.m. on 18th December, and bullock-carts, we finally arrived at 1973, while the team was still grappling with Karaikal Baha'i Centre at 9-30 p.m. Mr. its multitude of bags! We managed to get Doraisamy, a pioneer from Malaysia was the train to wait for us, and by almost there to welcome us. It was great to see him superhuman effort, the small band of youths and we related all our adventures before got everything aboard. This was the curling up here and there to sleep. beginning of a long adventure, and a great test of true Baha'i spirit. The train chug-chugged at a snail 's pace stopping at almost every station on the way and we could neither sleep nor sit comfor­ tably in the over-crowded compartment, until we reached Pondicherry, our first destination at 6-35 in the morning. Our baggage formed a small hill in front of the· station, and about twenty porters and rickshaw riders harrassed us, creating a big scene. What a start to our great campaign! All were tired and ready for bed but there was no time to rest - soldiers of Baha'u'llah shoold not be found sleeping in When the train was cancelled!

35 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 /J ee. 7s ~h 1 ly 71,

There were many Baha'is in this town but all activity had come to a standstill when the old pioneers left, and our duty was to contact the Baha'is, encourage and re­ activate them. 'Contact' was a mild word - we virtually had to hunt them out. In the town the spirit was dead. So we went to the surrounding villages which were green and beautiful and the simple folks who lived there were still holding onto the Faith.

We reached Tanjore on a cloudy even­ ing. Clouds of doubt and suspicion also weighed heavily in the atmosphere, for this Proclamation banners during operation locomotive .. town was under the influence of a social reformer who had preached against God in clubs, colleges and an orphanage. Pamphlets his effort to eradicate superstition. The made their way to many enquirers, among following day the sky cleared and the whom was a casual visitor from another scorching heat was enough to make the town, a Medical College professor, who not strongest feel weak and helpless, but we long after became a Baha'i. worked on, and after a few days of successful teaching we left for Tiruchy. Next destination - Cape Comarin, land's end of India where the Faith was Chance led us into the spacious com­ proclaimed resulting in about forty declara­ pound of the Railway Zonal Training School tions at the Vivekananda College. where we met the superintendant, a dynamic man named Zacchaus. During our con­ At Peruvillai, a simple village about fi ve versation he took out a file and read out miles from Nagercoil, we came upon a group from a report he had made to his head of youth who had founded a "Club of office in New Delhi. I almost jumped to my Knowledge", with an interesting and enlight­ feet when he read: "Count Leo Tolstoi, a ened constitution. When they heard about Russian philosopher wrote, 'We are spending the Baha'i teachings, they recognized its our lives trying to unveil the mysteries of divine source and many accepted Baha'u'lla h the universe, but, a Turkish prisoner without any reservation; they also began to Baha'u'llah, in Akka, had the key. " He spread the Faith on their own. explained that he had seen this Baha'i quotation in Poona, and was inspired to use Operation Locomotive kept going from it in framing his report, which will eventually town to town in Tamil Nadu, moving with be published in the railwaymen's magazine. prayer and minimum expenses. The project This incident gave a real boost to the ended on 18th February, 197 4 after two friends and we did some successful teaching months of intensive teaching. We had visited here. 19 towns, covering a distance of about 3000 kilometres, resulting in 95 declarations, and The team prodded on and it took one the opening up of many new areas. day and night to reach Madurai by train. Here we proclaimed the Faith with banners ( Three members of the group were and posters, and placed books for sale in all Malaysiains, including K. K rishnan the the five leading bookshops of this newest leader of f>he t eam - Ed.) city in India. We met the Mayor, spoke at

36 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol: 9 No ..'i Dec. n -J11!y 74

UNIVERSITY BAHA'I SOCIETIES NEWS ABOUT OUR PIONEERS (continued from page 32) A third University Baha'i Society has been formed in Malaysia in July '74 at the AFRICA Agricultural University, Serdang, Selangor, Cameroon Republic with six youths forming the nucleus. Information was received in May from the Cameroons that our pioneer Kamachee * was seriously ill. Soon after, further letters The Baha'i Society at the University of brought the distressing news that pioneer Malaya in Kuala Lumpur has lost some of S. Bhaskaran had met with a nasty accident its most active members but is happy to have in his home and had to be flown to London new-comers from many states and also from for specialist treatment. The news was East Malaysia. relayed to the community via the 19 Day Feast Letter and prayers for their recovery were said throughout the country. In Penang at the University Sains Malaysia, the young Society has had its Both have recovered and are back at first annual general meeting and elected their pioneer posts where they hope to a new executive committee with members remain as long as they are allowed. representing the first, second and third year Kamachee had a serious attack of malaria <>t udents. A new member from East Malaysia followed by severe hepatitis. She was nursed Goh Long Say, was elected onto the back to health through the kindness of some committee. Functions this year have included Persian and American pioneers in Victoria, a grand musical fireside attended by over who also took turns to stay with Bhaskaran's 100 students, during orientation week in June. wife and family during the time that he was under treatment in U.K. Bhaskaran has * suffered the loss of the sight of one eye. In Singapore two girls from Malaysia, Teh Hong Choo of Alor Star and Padma Swaziland Sundram of Penang have gained admission Our pioneer in Swaziland, Ravichandran, into the law faculty of the University. The is still at his post and will remain there for Baha 'i Society there has been dormant for another year till his contract expires. sometime with Stella Ong of Singapore and England Mr. Moh of Sarawak holding the fort. N. S. Seelan, who is articled to an Accountant's firm in London has been actively teaching and serving on various local and national committees ever since he left Africa. He was of great assistance to Bhaskaran during his convalescence in England. Seelan has also been busy on another project - this culminated in his marriage on July 6th to Tahere Jaafari, a Persian pioneer whom he met while serving in Kenya...... They are now living in Sheffield, where Tahere is at the University; they hope to return eventually to Africa. The executive committee and members of the University Sains in Penang, July 1974. Seated left to right: Goh Long Say, Loh Ghee Juan, Chew Chee Kong, "God who sees all hearts, knows how far Loh Lee Lee (secretary), K. Ananthan (chairman). our lives are the fulfillment of our words." Standing: Ng Choy Har, Ooi Ewe Lim, P. Muthu and Abdu'l-Baha (Pwris T.alks) Appalasamy.

37 iil alausian Baha'i N ews Vo l: 9 No.4 Dec. 79-J11 ly 74

Proclamation and Recognition

Dawn Prayers over Radio Sarawak Radio Malaysia in Sarawak has added a new feature to its already existing regular Baha 'i evening programs which are broadcast every fifth week in lban, Chinese and English. Now Baha'i prayers in lban are also broadcast early morning once in five days. In addition, there are special Baha 'i program mes broadcast on the Holy Days.

Baha'i Holy Days Gazetted in Malaysia All nine Baha 'i holy days have been listed in the official government gazette in Malaysia and a circular (PEKELILING PERKHIDMATAN BIL. 33 TAHUN 1973) has been sent to all government offices in the country. Baha'i employees may now take five days unrecorded leave on any of their holy days. This privilege was also accorded to Baha 'is in the past, but this official document is a further step in lhe recognition of the Faith.

Baha'i Representative at U.N. Ecafe Conference A United Nations Seminar on the Integration of Women in Development, was held in Bangkok from May 13-17, 1974, at which the Baha 'i International Community was re­ presented by Auxiliary Boa rd member Shantha Sundram.

Baha'is invited to Parliamentary Consultation On December 28, 1973, representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly met the Malaysian "Parliamentary Joint-consultative committee on non-Muslim marriages" and presented the Baha'i point of view, at their invitation. The results of the recommendations are not known yet.

Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly The Memorandum and Articles of Association, for the incorporation of the National Assembly have been drafted, signed and submitted by our lawyers to the authorities, thus completing the first stage of incorporation under the Company's Act of 1965.

Asli Assemblies officially registered Two Asli Local Spiritual Assemblies were registered for the first time in 1973. They were Kampong Sungei Jentong and Kampong Menderang in Perak.

First Penghulu's Conference The first Asli Penghulu 's Conference was held in July at Trolak, Perak, where about thirty penghulus (headmen) met with members of the National Assembley and the Auxiliary Board. The meeting was of great importance as Asli teaching work is carried on entirely by the Aslis themselves.

Honour for local Baha'i Lily Janz, the chairman of the LSA of Georgetown, Penang, was selected by Her Highness, the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia as her personal hair-dresser on the State visit of Their Royal Highnesses to England in July, 1974. Lily stayed with the royal party at Buckingham Palace in London, and was able to present two illuminated prayer cards to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. A very gracious acknowledgement was received.

38 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. rs-July 74

FIRST YOUTH CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION AT ABDU'L BAHA'S VILLAGE IN BURMA

The Baha'i youth of Burma had invited participants from eleven countries to their very first youth conference held immediately after the Convention in April 1974 at Dai den aw, known as Abdu'l Baha's Village. They had only one youth represen~a­ tive from a foreign country - Malaysia - It was a happy and great experience. Ruhiyyih Khanum in Abdu'l·Baha's Village

Burma is a beautiful country, its people she could remember being told about a unspoiled by the mad rush of civilization village in Burma where all the people were around them. The Baha'is of Burma are a Baha 'is, and it had been one of her greatest miracle in themselves - a community that wishes to go there and meet them. Violet began in the days of Abdu'I Baha and lost Nakhjavani, who accompanied Amatu 'I Baha, touch with the outside world, but still added that as far back as she could remained steadfast with a distinctly Baha 'i remember, the Baha 'is in Iran also used to identity. A loving people, hospitable beyond tell stories of Abdu'I Baha's Village in the words, unsophisticated, eager and enthusia­ heart of Burma. site - such were the Baha'is of Burma who had gathered for their Annual Conven­ The public address system set up for tion and Youth Conference in Daidenaw. the Convention had loudspeakers that extended almost onto the street outside, and National Convention · as the whole village consisted of houses on Ridvan 74 was a very special time for either side of the main street, it virtually the Baha'is of Burma, fo r beloved Amatu'I reached the whole village. The Five Year Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum was present at their Plan from the Universal House of Justice Convention. It was held in Daidenaw which had been read at the opening of the especially in her honour as she had expressed Convention by beloved Ruhiyyih Khanun a wish to visit this historic village. herself, had therefore reached out to every­ one in Abdu'I Baha 's Village. Speaking to an audience of about 300 Baha'is ranging from ti ny children to National elections were held later in venerable old men and women, Ruhiyyih the day, and it was interesting to see how Khanun said that as a little girl in Montreal, seriously the delegates took their respon-

39 MalayBia" Baha'i NewB Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 78-July 74

sibility. Four improvised "polling booths" had been sel' up behind the meeting place, and delegates moved up quietly and took their place at a booth when il' was vacated, then returned to join the meeting which remained in progress throughout the day. While sessions of the convention were on, Ruhiyyih Khanun, dressed in native costume, and with flowers in her hair, walked around the small village with some of the friends, learning about the customs of the place. Youth Conference Counsellor Firaydun Mithaqiyan was also present at Padma Sundram, the youth representa­ the Convention and is seen here briefing members of the tive from Malaysia, addressed the youth NBYC on their responsibilities in the Five Year Plan. conference and told them simply what the Malaysian youth were doing al' home. atmosphere of a great big family re-union. Everything was translated sentence by They were not only busy in the kitchen with sentence and the crowd applauded so the catering but had also arranged a book heartily after each translation, that she began and poster exhibition which was held in the to wonder what her interpreter was saying! Shrine of Mustafa · Rou mi , the ma rtyr-pioneer When she told them about the musical fire­ of Daidenaw. The shrine is adjacent to the sides they asked her to sing, and not being wooden Baha'i Centre at which the Con­ a soloist by any means, she blushed to think vention and Youth Conference was held. ;of ,what the group back home · would have At present the people of Burma are not commented, if they heard about the encores permitted to travel to other countries, but .she received! as soon as these restrictions are lifted, we The '· youth were involved in all the can be sure that the active youth of Burma •physical arrangements for the large con ­ will find their way to · Malaysia to meet the vention and conference which had the rest of their big Baha 'i family.

Members of the National Baha'i Youth Committee Some of the beautiful Burmese youth who attended · . , of Burma with . Pad ma Sundram of Malaysia (in the convention and first. youth conference at Abdul Burmese dress) The Malaysian NBYC has close Baha's village, Ridvan 1974. Burmese, old and young, connections with the NBYC of Burma through wear their national costume all the time. correspondence. 40 MalayBian Baha'i New• Vol:9 No.I, Dec. ~s-July 74

The Story of Daidenaw-Abdul-Baha's Village

Daidenaw is just a very small and seemingly insignificant little village in the district of Kungyangoon in Burma. The whole village stretches a few miles on either side of a trunk road that runs through countless other similar villages. What makes it different to people passing by, is the unexpected and striking wh ite brick double­ Some of the oldest residents of Daidenaw were invited storeyed shrine of Mustafa Roumi, an out­ by Ruhiyyih Khanum to recall the early history of the standing proclamation of the love and respect village. Translating their stories is Ma Thoung Khin, that the Baha'is have for the man who a member of the NSA of Burma. brought them the Faith. of a Hand of the Cause by the beloved The remarkable story of how it happened Guardian. is all the more remarkable when one During the second world war, the village discovers that it began through a simple of Daidenaw was overrun by gangs of act of kindness by a Baha'i to a stranger. looters causing the residents to flee to other The story began long ago in a courthouse parts of Burma. Wherever they settled, they in Rangoon when two villagers who had formed the nucleus of Baha'i groups and come from Dardenaw with some . legal communities, and it was interesting to meet problems, found themselves stranded because delegates at the Convention from different they had no friends in Rangoon to stand parts of Burma , and learn that. the.ir parents security for them. or gra ndparents had '• originally co~ei from Abdul Kareem, a Baha 'i of Rangoon Daidenaw. who happened to be in the courtroom that day, saw their plight a·nd offered his Historical footnote on Siyyid Mustafa , R

41 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 78-July 74

Happy group at the Araluen Youth Conference in Western Australia, at which about 90 friends from all over Australia participated, including some Malaysian students.

W . Australian Youth Conference Vietnam calls for travel-teachers A historic and very successful youth Among the thousands of Baha'is in conference (first time in Western Australia) Vietnam are a few hundred of Chinese origin, was held at a camp at Araluen about 20 and Malaysia has been requested to send miles from Perth in Jan. 1974. Among the travel-teachers there for short-term con­ participants were a few Malaysians studying solidating. Miss Yaw Kam Sim (our national br settled in Australia and also one repre­ book-shop manager) has volunteered for a sentative of the NBYC of Malaysia, Susheela few months and will leave in September. Sundram of Penang. Her account of all the Miss Khoo Siew Thay of Penang has a activities at the conference, contained these WHO job in Saigon, and is serving on a interesting comments: "Although the heat was Foreign Teaching Committee, as well as almost unbearable, the sessions were well­ helping with children's classes. attended throughoul·, and punctuality was maintained. Each youth promised to read five books recommended by the Guardian - God Passes By, Dawn-Breakers, Gleanings, Kitab-i-lqan and Some Answered Questions. 'Each youth also promised to try and say the Long Obligatory Prayer daily."

Susheela, who was secretary of the Glugor (Penang) LBYC, is now studying in Perth, and has written to say that the friends there are we.II organised and very active, M iss Cuc, a Vietnamese friend, and Khoo Siew Thay and the teaching is fantastic. (right), with a children's class in Saigon.

42 Afrilausian Bahci'i N ews Vol:9 No.J, Dec. 78--Juty 74

TABLET ON PURITY

The following tablet in which Abdul Baha speaks about tobacco, is being published here at the request ·of many friends, who are aware that smoking is not forbidden in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, but would like to know what has been written about it

0 pure friends of God! influence the spirits! A wonderful song giveth wings to the spirit and filleth the heart Cleanliness and sanctity in all conditions with exaltation. To return to the subject, the are characteristics of pure beings and fact of having a pure and spotless body necessities of free souls. The first perfection likewise exerciseth an influence upon the consists in cleanliness and sanctity and in sp irit of man . purity from every defect. When man in all conditions is pure and immaculate, he will Now, see how much purity is approved become the center of the reflection of the in the Court of God, that it should be manifest Light. In all his actions and conduct especial ly mentioned in the Holy Books of there must first be purity, then beauty and the Prophets. So the Holy Books forbid the independence. The channel must be eati ng of any unclean thing, or the use of cleansed before it is filled with sweet water. anything which is not pure. Certain pro­ The pure eye comprehendeth the sight and hibitions are absolute and imperative for the meeting of God; the pure nostril inhaleth all; he who commits that which is forbidden the perfumes of the rose-garden of bounty; is detested by God and excluded from the the pure heart becometh the mirror of the number of the elect.. This applieth to the beauty of truth. This is why, in the heavenly things forb idden by an absolute prohibition Books, the divine counsels and commands and of which the perpetration is a grave have been compared to water. So, in the sin; they are so vile that even to mention Quran it is said, "and we have caused a them is shameful. pure water to descend from heaven;" and in the Gospel, "Except a man hath received There are other forbidden things which the baptism of water and of the spirit, he do not cause an immediate evil and cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." Then of which the pern1c1ous effect is only it is evident that the divine teachings are the gradually produced. They are also abhorred, heavenly grace and the showers of the mercy blamed and rejected by God, but their pro­ of God, which purify the hearts of men. hibition is not recorded in an absolute way, although cleanliness and sanctity, spotless­ The meaning is, in all conditions, clean­ ness and purity, the preservation of health liness and sanctity, purity .and delicacy exalt and independence are required by these humanity and make the contingent beings interdictions. progress. Even when applied to physical Tobacco things, delicacy causeth the attainment of spirituality, as it is established in the Holy One of these last prohibitions is the Scriptures. smoking of tobacco, whi ch is unclean, malodorous, disgreeable and vulgar and of External cleanliness, although it is but a which the gradual harmfulness is universally physical thing, hath a great influence upon recognised. All clever physicians have spirituality. For example, although sound is judged, and have also shown by experiment, but the vibrations of the air which affect the that one of the constituents of tobacco is a tympanum of the ear, and vibrations of the mortal poison and that smokers are exposed air are but an accident among the accidents to different indispositions and maladies. That which depend upon the air, consider how is why cleanly people have a marked much marvelous notes or a charming song aversion for its use. (continued overleaf)

43 Malaysian Baha'i News Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 78-July 74

Tablet on Purity (continued) (continued from page 22) News from Sarawak His Supreme Highness, the Bab - may my soul be His sacrifice! - in the beginning Group teaching of His Cause, openly forbade it and all the The Baha'is of Kampong Lunying set out friends abandoned its use. But, as it was a to teach on 15th March . They travelled to time for caution and he who abstained from Kg. Stika where they were warmly welcomed smoking was ill-treated, persecuted and even by the beating of drums, children singing killed, therefore the friends were obliged Allah-u-Abha, and the chanting of prayers. as a matter of prudence, to smoke. Later, Flowers were showered on the visitors and the Kitab-i-Aqdas was revealed and as the 86 Baha'is attended the meeting. They took prohibition of tobacco was not clearly stated some Baha'is from Stika and proceeded to in it, the friends did not renounce it. But Kg . Nibong, where they were welcomed by the Blessed Perfection had always a marked girls in traditional dress. They travelled aversion for its use. At the beginning of further to Kg. Tungkah and Kg. Sebuyau the Cause, for certain reasons, He smoked a Ensengai, and then to Sungei Bulu. By the little, but later He abandoned it completely, time they reached Sg. Bulu, the group and the holy souls who obeyed Him in all numbered 32. circumstances, also entirely gave up smoking. Sungei Bulu reports that the group had I wish to say that, in the sight of God, a meeting in their Kampong where 200 the smoking of tobacco is a thing which is Baha'is attended. While there, they witnessed blamed and condemned, very unclean, and the Baha'i marriage of a new believer. of which the result is by degrees injurious. Opening of new Centres Besides, it is a cause of expense and of loss At Kampong Stika about 150 represen­ of time and it is a harmful habit. So, for tatives from 10 Baha'i localities gathered to those who are firm in the Covenant, it is a witness the opening of the Baha'i Centre, the thing reprobated by the reason and by entire cost of which was contributed by the tradition, the renouncement of which giveth local believers themselves. The funds gradual repose and tranquility, permitteth collected during this occasion were sent to one to have stainless hands and a clean the Centre Building Fund, Kuching. mouth, and hair which is not pervaded by a bad odor. On the 8th and 9th of June, about 60 Baha'is gathered at Kg. Sekendu to witness Without any doubt, the friends of God the dedication of their beautiful Centre. They on receiving this epistle will renounce this had a conference on the Five Year Plan injurious habit by all means, even if it be the next day. necessary to do so by degrees. This is my hope. A devoted Baha'i A Baha 'i somewhere from Simunjan Abdu'I Baha travelled for two whole days to the National (Tab. p. 581 and BWF p. 338) Centre in Kuching just to confirm whether the post of Tu ai- Rumah (long-house chief) is acceptable to a Baha'i. He was not clear whether the post was a political one or not. This believer is illi terate but his depth in the Faith is an inspiration for all.

44 Malaysian Baha'i N ewa Vol: 9 No.4 Dec. 711--July 7 4

Letter from Hand of the Cause Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum To the National Spiritual Assembly of Malaysia Beloved friends, I was very sorry not to be able to visit Malaysia on my recent trip to Hongkong. You may be sure that if there had been any way I could have fitted it in with the other things I had already made plans to do, I would have gladly done so. But I find I can only stand so much pressure and haste when travelling and on this last two months' trip there was really nothing else that could be added without running the risk of getting ill. I think of the Malaysian Baha'is much more often than they realise and remember the thrilling occasion of your first Baha'i Convention and the election of your Assembly. I hope that next time I am able to go to that part of Asia, I can visit the Baha 'is in Malaysia. In the meantime, I send you all not only my warmest love, but wish to assure you that I greatly admire the spirit in which the Malaysian believers work at home, and their teachers and pioneers, whom I have met, abroad. I think that in common with a few other countries in that part of the world, you are going to provide a vast reservoir of exemplary pioneers and teachers for the rest of the world. With lovitng greetings, July 12, 1974. Ruhiyyih

Transfer of Continental Pioneer Committee to Malaysia

In a letter to the National Assembly of Malaysia dated 22nd July 1974 the House of Justice announced the transfer of the seat of the Continental Pioneer Committee for Asia, from Persia to Malaysia. (This was because of the difficulty of Baha'i in­ stitutions in Iran to freely communicate with, and keep in touch with pioneers in the continent). This move is indeed a great honour for Malaysia. Members of the Continental Pioneer Committee will be appointed by the Universal House of Justice. The work of the Committee is primarily executive and it is responsible directly to the Universal House of Justice. It will maintain close and direct collabora­ tion with the Continental Boards of Counsellors in the area. The responsibilities of the Continental Pioneer Committee cover three inter-related areas - information, pioneering and travel-teaching. They compliment, but in no way replace the functions and responsibilities of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and National Spiritual Assemblies.

"Rejoice, for the heavenly table is prepared for you. Rejoice, for the angels of heaven are your assistants and helpers. Rej oice, for the glance of the Blessed Beauty Baha'u'llah is directed upon you. Rejoice, for Baha'u'llah is your protector. Rejoice, for the glory everlasting is destined for you. Rejoice, for the life eternal is awaiting you." *'I (Promulg,ation of Universal Peace) Abdul Baha. * 45 1H11/.a ys ian Baha "i I\lewx Vol:9 No ..', Dec. 78- July 7.,,

CL. eLari{ications on J tUe cyear

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Malaysia it is important for your National Spiritual Assembly to give careful consideration to providing means to enable Dear Baha 'i Friends, them to become self-supporting at their posts. For To help you in carrying out the tasks assigned example, certain National Spiritual Assemblies provide to you in the Five Year Plan, we send you the vocational training, in the form of a simple course or following further clarifications. instruction acquired as an apprentice, over a period of some two to three months, depending on the nature One of your goals is to train one or more of the vocation to be acquired, before their prospective believers from loca l communities to assist in the pioneers set out for their goals. Such training enables deepening and consolidation work. Obviously a v ital the pioneers to engage in a trade, however modest it step in the consolidation of the Baha'i community is may be, and soon become self-supporting. It is our the bringing into full activity of al l the Local Spiritual hope that by adopting such methods you will assist Assemblies. This ca n be achieved in several ways. your pioneers to become financially independent, to One is by the Continental Board of Counsellors taking increase thereby the effectiveness of their services at advantage of the permission to have their Auxiliary their posts, and to relieve the Baha'i funds from Board members appoint assistants, and then ensuring having to support them for an indefinite period. that these assistants are given training in the teachings of the Faith and the working of the Administrative As your National Assembly area now comprises Order, so that they can effectively assist the Local both Western and Eastern regions of the country, you Spiritual Assemblies. Another method is the setting should ensure that the tempo of the teaching activities up of small tutorial schools for the primary ed ucation w hich were carried out so effectively in the Eastern of vi ll age children and for teaching adults how to read region is maintained. W e suggest, therefore, that and write. Baha'is who teach in such schools you appoint a separate National Teaching Committee may, in addition to their school work, assist their for that region, and allocate an adequate budget for fellow believers to deepen in the Cause and give its operations. Although your National Spiritual helpful advice to the Local Spiritual Assemblies. A Assembly w ill have ultimate and general authority over third way is for the National Spiritual Assembly to the work of this Committee, in view of the prevailing carry out the programme stated in this goal, in which conditions, you may empower that Committee to handle capable Baha'is would be selected in each village, and all matters of detail pertain ing to the region it serves. would be trained in the teachings so that when they returned home they could offer to share their knowledge Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the with their fellow believers and enhance the functioning Baha'is under your jurisdiction as you embark upon of the local community. All or any of these ways, and the execution of your share of the goals of the Five any others that can be thought of, may be energetically Year Plan. followed.

As the fulfillment of the teaching goals assigned With Loving Baha'i Greetings, to you will require the raising of a number of pioneers, The Universal House of Justice.

Elucidations- On the World Message­ . to all National Spiritual Assemblies Dear Baha'i friends, To supplement the message which is being When choosing localities to be opened to the Faith addressed to each of your communities giving its and when deciding which localities should have Local specific goals under the Five-Year-Plan, we now share Spiritual Assemblies, you should bear in mind the w ith you a number of elucidations. Certain of the need to have the Baha'i community represented broadly paragraphs which fol low may apply to goals which across the area under your jurisdiction. It is likely have not been allotted to your community, but it will no doubt be of interest to you to read them in relation that some areas will show themselves particularly to the world-wide scope of the Plan. receptive and numerous local Baha'i communities will

46 Malaysian Baha' i N ew s Vo!:9 No. ~ Dec. 73-Ju/.y 74

Elucidations on the World message (continued) property would be too expensive. It should, If possible, be situated within the city designated or, if this is speedily arise there, but while fostering such growth not feasible, within 25 kilometres from the city. you should not neglect those areas in which the Faith is as yet unrepresented. A national endowment should be regarded as an investment in real estate owned by the National The institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly is Spiritual Assembly. It may be anywhere in the country of primary importance in the firm establishment of the and can be a small, inexpensive piece of land donated faith, and we hope that you will give particular attention by one of the friends, or else acquired out of the to ensuring that as many as possible, and in increasing resources of the National Fund. numbers, are, in the words of the beloved Guardian, "broadly based, securely grounded" and "efficiently Where we have given a goal to acquire a Haziratul functioning". -Quds which is to serve the entire community in a The time has come, we believe, when increasing certain country, it is to be a local Haziratul-Quds at numbers of Local Spiritual Assemblies should assume the present time but should be of a size and quality responsibility for helping the teaching work of groups, to serve as an administrative centre and focal point for isolated believers, and other Spiritual Assemblies in the whole community. We envisage that some of such their neighbourhood. Such extension teaching goals Haziratul-Quds, may, at a later date, be converted into should be assigned by the National Spiritual Assembly National Haziratul-Quds, and these facts should be or one of its teaching committees, or can be spontan­ borne in mind when acquiring them. eously adopted by Local Spiritual Assemblies, and In the goal for local Haziratul-Quds given to some should be carried out within the framework of the communities we state that a certain number should be overall teaching plans of the country. It should also large enough to accommodate activities of a number of be made clear that by being given such goals a communities in the surrounding district. While not --•--'"'piritual Assembly is not being given jurisdiction over being at all in the same category as the Haziratul believers outside its area, still less over other Local -Quds described in the last paragraph above, these Spiritual Assemblies, but is being called upon to particular buildings are intended to be rather more collaborate with them in their work. substantial structures than the average local Haziratul­ The Five Year Plan does not include specific Quds, and should be located in areas which form goals for the recognition of Baha'i marriage certificates easi ly accessible, central gathering places for districts or of Baha'i Holy Days because, in most countries in which large numbers of Baha'is are living. In addition where these goals are not already won, achievement to serving as a local Haziratul-Quds for its own town depends upon circumstances beyond our control. Never­ or village, such a building can be used for district theless, National Spiritual Assemblies should bear in gatherings, for the holding of teaching institutes, con­ mind the need to increase recognition of the Faith ferences, deepening classes, etc. for the larger area, and should be alert to possibilities of winning these and could possibly accommodate the office of the goals where they are as yet unattained. district teaching committee.

There are a number of national incorporation goals In general we intend that the local Haziratul-Quds of the Nine Year Plan towards the attainment of called for in the Plan should be very simple structures which considerable progress has already been made. to serve as focal points and meeting places for the These have not been included as goals of the Five­ local communities. It is hoped that land for them can Year-Plan although they are still pending, but of be provided by local believers and that they can be course they should be pursued to completion. built, for the most part, by the local friends. In certain instances the National Spiritual Assembly may If acquisition of a National Hazirutul-Quds is a feel justified in giving a small amount of assistance responsibility assigned to you under the Five-Year­ from the National Fund. Plan you should treat this as an urgent matter in view of the world-wide condition of inflation and rising property The acquisition of local endowments, which is costs. Such a building, which must be suitable to given as a specific goal to some national communities, serve as the seat of the National Spiritual Assembly, is intended to assist in the consolidation of local should be purchased as economically as possible. communities and to foster the spirit of unity and Preferably it should be a free-hold detached building, collaboration among the believers. A local endowment although if such is not obtainable, a semi-detached can be quite a small piece of land; it can be or an apartment may be considered or even a property purchased by the Local Spiritual Assembly or is more on a long-term lease. usually the gift of one or more of the believers. If the Local Assembly is incorporated, the endowment should A sight for the future Mashriqul Adkhar can be be registered in its name but if it is not, the endowment as small as 8,000 sq. meters in area if a larger can be held by one or more of the believers or on

47 Mala.11sian ·Baha'i Newa Vol:9 No,4 Dec. 79-July 7~

(Elucidations continued) the spirit of that Conference, and, by augmenting ·the numbers attending your national conference will greatly behalf of the community. For example, If one of assist its effectiveness as a means of proclaiming the believers gives a small piece of land he can the Faith and enthusing those believers who will have continue to hold it in his name, but it will be been unable to attend the International Conferences. known that he does so on behalf of the Local Spiritual Assembly and that the land will in time Baha'i y_out should be encouraged to think of their be transfered legally to the Assembly when that studies an of their training for a trade or profession as Is possible. · In some countries land is owned by ~ of their se d es to the Cause of God and in t e the state or the tribe and only the use of the land can be assigned; in such places the goal can be "C'Ori'rext of a 1f time t at will e evote ~ vancing considered achieved if the Local Spiritual Assembly the inteJ_ests . f t e ail . At the same time, during "hei can obtain the use of a plot of land in its own name. years of study, youth are often able to offer specific In some countries, even if the land can be purchased, periods of weeks or months, or even a year or more, government regulations require that within a specific during which they can devote themselves to travel time a building must be erected on the land held by teaching or to serving the Baha'i community in other religious institutions. This problem can be met in ways, such as conducting children's classes in remote several ways; it may be possible for the Spiritual villages. They should be encouraged to offer such Assembly to obtain the use of, or acquire, a plot of service, which will in itself be admirable experience land for agricultural purposes, thus avoiding the need for the future, and the National Assembly should to erect a building; or if the most practical course is instruct an appropriate committee to receive such to erect on the land a Baha'i institution such as a offers and to organise their implementation so as to local Haziratul-Quds, the Assembly could, in its own derive the greatest possible advantage from them. records, demarcate a portion of the land to be the endowment, distinct from the portion on which the A very important activity which has been pursued Haziratul-Quds stands. effectively in all too few countries, is the undertaking by the National Spiritual Assembly of a sustain, planned effort to foster cordial relations with prominent people be and responsible government officials and to familarize them personally with the basic tenets and the teachings C?1-..-.nf the Faith. Such an activity must be carried out with wisdom and discretion, and requires the constant attention of responsible committee as well as periodic review by the National Spiritual Assembly itself. Where successful it can effectively forestall opposition to unity of the local community and deepen the friends' the Faith and smooth the way for many essential knowledge of the teachings if such gatherings could aspects of the development of the Baha'i community. be organised by the Local Spiritual Assembly on a regular basis. Attendance at these gatherings is not to be obligatory, but we hope that the friends will Enclosed with this letter you will receive a list of more and more be drawn to take part in them. This pioneer assistance initially called for at the opening is a goal which can be attained gradually. of the Plan. Any National Spiritual Assembly which has pioneers abroad from previous plans is still The holding of regular national teaching conferences responsible for helping them to remain at their posts, or has proved to be a valuable stimulus to the work in replacing them, if the services they have been rendering a number of countries, as well as a means for forging are still needed. However, if you have any still unfilled more strongly the bonds of unity among the believers. pioneer goals from the Nine Year Plan or from the Beyond this, many national communities are presented current year, you may consider them cancelled, because with a special opportunity to hold a highly effective such unfilled goals have been taken into consideration teaching conference at the time of the eight Inter­ in ass igning the goals of the Five Year Plan. Best national Conferences which are being called at the results can be obtained when pioneer projects are mid-way point of the Plan. Believers travelling to, arranged in consultation between the sending and and from these International Conferences are likely receiving National Spiritual Assemblies or their to be eager to assist the work in the countries through appropriate committees. which they pass. Therefore, if you hold a n ·o a o ference shortly a ter the In el",l;latiol"la Con erence w ich is ne res to you, it may well be atten e With loving Baha'i Greetings, believers from other lands who will bring with them The Universal' House of Justice.

48 Malaysian Baha.'i News Vol:9 No •.4 Ode. 18-Jtll1114

1950 1959 1950 Arrival of Dr. K. M. Fozdar (followed soon by Mrs. Fozdar), first pioneers to Malaya and Singapore. 1952 Local Spiritual Assembly of Singapore elected. 1953 Enrolment of the first believer in Malaya - Mr. Yan Kee Leong of Seremban. 1954 First Local Spiritual Assembly elected in Malaya - Seremban. 1955 Local Spiritual Assemblies of Kuala Lumpur and Malacca elected. 1957 Election of the first Regional Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia, which had jurisdiction over Mal;:iya - seat in Jakarta, Indonesia. A small pilot Summer School held in Malacca. Hand of the Cause, Dr. R. Muhajir visted Malacca - (first visit to Malaysia). 1958 Penang, first LSA in N. Malaya, formed through initiative pioneers Jeanne Frankel, Margaret Bates. First Pan -Malayan Summer School organized in Malacca. A plot of land purchased by pioneer Bill Smits later donated for National Teaching Institute. Inter-Continental Conference held in Singapore (transferred from Jakarta). Mrs. George Lee donated a plot of land, which was · later sold to purchase the premises of the National Haziratu'I Quds in Kuala Lumpur and the Centre in Singapore. First Baha'i wedding in Malaya and South East Asia - Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Fernandez. The first National Teaching Committee of Singapore and Malaya was appointed by R.S.A. 1959 First Asli teaching took place (in Perak) and first Asli village became Baha'i, through efforts of Yan Kee Leong under R.S.A. 1960 1969 1960 Hand of the Cause, Dr. Muhajir visited East Coast states of the Malay peninsular. Summer School held at Port Dickson with Hand of the Cause, Dr. Muhajir present. First burial ground acquired in Malaya, in Seremban. 1961 Hand of the Cause, Tarazullah Samandari visited Malaysia for the first time. Amatu'I Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum visited Malaysia for the first time. Fi rst issue of a news bull etin called "Baha'i N ews" wa s published by the R.S.A. of S.E. Asia. 1st Pan Malayan Baha'i Youth Conference in West Malaysia held in Port Dickson. Fi rst Baha'i Youth Committee formed by NTC. A translation Committee wa s appointed for the fi rst time to translate Baha'i literature into Tamil. 1962 Nineteen Day Feast News letter was first published. Appointment of the first Publications Committee to prepare and publish materials. Burial ground acquired in Malacca . 1963 A committee to initiate Mass Teaching was appointed by the NTC. This sparked off entry into the Faith of large numbers of Ind ian believers in rubber estates. Malaysian Baha'is chartered a plane to attend the Centenary World Congress in London. A newsletter called "Malayan Baha'i" published in Malacca, (for a few months). 1964 First Aborigine Teaching Committee formed by R.S.A. with pioneer R. Wolff participating . First National Convention of the Baha'is of Malaysia, organized by the Regional Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia met in Kuala Lumpur and elected Malaysia's first National Spiritual Assembly. Amatu'I Baha Ruh iyyih Khanum represented the Universal House of Justice. The Nine Year Plan was launched. First translation of Baha'i into Asli dialect done by K. Krishnan - (Semai). Burial ground acquired in Alor Star, Kedah. 1965 Mr. Leong Tat Chee of Malacca appointed as first Auxiliary Board Member for Malaysia. An attempt to ban the Fa ith was averted through legal representation. The National Haziratu'I Quds was officially opened, at 32, Jal an Angsana, Kuala Lumpur. First issue of the Malaysian Baha'i News was published with Mrs. Shantha Sund ram as Editor. Visit by Universal House of Justice member, Mr. Fatheazam. Attended Summer School in Malacca. Fi rst National Baha'i Youth Committee appointed by the NSA. First Baha'i Youth Training Camp organized by the NTC at Port Dickson.

49 Malaysian Baha'i News Vo!:9 No.4 Dec. 78-J'Ul.y 74

(Milestones continued) 1966 Departure of first Malaysian pioneer abroad - Yin Hong Shuen to Ceylon. Appointment of All Malaysian Students and Youth Executive Committee to replace NBYC. Departure of the first Malaysian pioneer to Brunei - K. Krishnan. National Teaching Institute officially opened by Aux. Bd. Member, Leong Tat Chee in Malacca. Yan Kee Leong appointed Aux. Bd. Member for Asia, with special reference to Brunei and Sarawak. First National Spiritual Assembly of Brunei elected. It was previously under the NSA of Malaysia. Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone attended Malaysia's Convention. 2nd Visit of Hand of the Cause Tarazullah Sa mandari. First time that Chinese villagers came in by troops. (Mas}id Tanah, Malacca). Border Teaching Committee formed to teach in South Thailand. 1967 Third Visit of Hand of the Cause, Tarazullah S amandari to Malaysia. He attended a special seminar organized in Singapore by NSA of Malaysia. Departure of first Malaysian pioneer to Taiwan - Kit Yin Kiang. First pioneer to Thailand - Mr. Sabapathy. First pioneer to Solomon Islands - Miss Lean Beng Liew of Kuala Lumpur. World-wide Proclamation launched by Universal House of Justice. Appointment of NSA Secretary, Mr. S. Vasudevan as Auxiliary Board Member for Ceylon, and his departure as Malaysia's first pioneer to India. Mr. Leong Tat Chee presented his home as Baha'i Centre of Malacca. Mr. Yan Kee Leong presented his home as Baha'i Centre of Seremban. First Baha'i Society in college formed - The Technical College Baha'i Society, Kuala Lumpur. National Baha'i Youth Council appointed by NSA - sparked off extensive nation-wide youth activity. South East Asian Regional Conference held in Kuala Lumpur after the Intercontinental Conference in New Delhi, with Hands of the Cause A. Q. Faizi and Dr. R. Muhajir present. First Malaysian-Thai Summer School held in Songkla, South Thailand. 1968 First time Nawruz officially announced over Radio Malaysia in mid-day news bulletin on March 21. First Continental Board of Counsellors appointed by the Universal House of Justice, Mr. Yan Kee Leong, Dr. C. J. Sundram and Mr. K. H. Pay man appointed to the South East Asian Zone. Malaysian pioneer in India, ABM Vasudevan, appointed Counsellor for the N. W. Asian Zone. First issue of the newsletter of the National Baha'i Youth Committee "Unity" was published. Inauguration of the Baha'i Society of the University of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur). Inauguration of the Baha 'i Society of the Malaysian Teachers' Training College, (Penang). First S. E. Asian Regional Baha'i Youth Confere nee held in Kuala Lumpur with Hand Faizi present. Members of the NSA of Malaysia made their first official visit to East Malaysia and Brunei. Local Haziratu'I Quds acquired at Aler Star, officially opened by Hand of the Cause Faizi. Jasin Secondary School (Malacca State) became the first school to have a Baha'i Society. 1969 First course. for teachers to teach in Asli areas held at Teaching Institute Malacca. The Inter College Baha'i Societies Council was formed to co-ordinate activities of Baha'i Societies. First National Baha'i Women's Conference held at National Hazira in Kuala Lumpur. The Baha'i Information Service of the NSA was formed. Regional Youth Conference was held in Singapore, organised by NBYC of Malaysia. Temple-site negotiations begun and deposit paid for 5 acres of land in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. 1970 1974 1970 Appointment of Mrs. Betty Fernandez as Auxi liary Board Member for Malaysia and Singapore. Inauguration of the University of Singapore Baha'i Society. Shiraz, a University Baha'i Society Newsletter first appeared on the campus of the University of Malaya and later on the Singapore University campus. " 52 Baha'i Talks" a book by Sidney Dean published by NSA. Small (English) prayer book with over 50 prayers published by NSA. Mrs. E. Gibson of U.S. arrived Malaysia, stayed three years - dynamic involvement activity. First time World Peace Day celebrated in Malaysia (Petaling Jaya).

50 Malaysian Baha'i N ews Vol:9 No.4 Dec. 73-July 74

(Milestones continued) 1971 Oceanic Conference held at Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore with a participation of 400. Hands of the Cause, Enoch Olinga, Collis Featherstone attended. Highlighted by superb Baha'i Exhibition - Preceeded by extensive nation-wide proclamation. " Light of the Age" a national monthly deepening magazine was published, (for two years). First time mass-teaching done by teams in ·city streets, following youth conference in Kuala Lumpur. First Pioneer to Hong Kong - Yi n Hong Shuen, followed by T. K. Lee an d Teh Tei k Hoe, early 1972. First Malaysian pioneer to Laos, Miss Lean Beng Liew. Seremban became Headquarters of Asli Committee - Asli training courses began. Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Abdu"l-Baha's Ascension observed throughout country. 1972 First National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Singapore elected w ith Hand of the Cause Jalal Khazeh representing the House of Justice. First National Spiritual Assembly _of Baha"is of Eastern Malaysia and Brunei elected at Kuching. First time two Summer Schools organized simultaneously (Penang and Malacca) in Malaysia. Six travel teachers left for Africa to assist in accomplishing the goals of the Nine Year Plan. Four travel teachers left for South India at the request of Indian NSA. First Nine-Day-Institute (co-ordinated by Jenabe Caldwell) held in Port Dickson - attendance 20. First children's institute ("pre-dek" institute) held in Penang for children of pre-declaration age. First Winter School held in Malaysia - in Johore. Appointment of Mr. I. Chinniah as Auxiliary Board Member for Malaysia and Singapore. National Tamil literature unit formed - (based in Alor Star). 1973 Translation of literature into five Asli dialects completed by Lim Kok Hoon (goal of nine year plan). Nineteen Day Feast Letter published in Tami l, Chinese and Malay as well as English. Nine Year Plan concluded successfully. Oli Uthayam, first Tamil monthly magazine was published. A One Year Plan was launched, with guidance from Dr. Muhajir. Legal proceedings were started to in corporate the NSA und er the Company's Act. First two Asli LSAs were registered - Kg. Sungei Jentong and Kg. Menderang in Perak. First Musical Fireside held in Malaysia (Penang). First Summer School held at lpoh, with first public performance of Malaysian musical group. The Baha'i Society of University Sains, Penang, was formed. Appointment of Mrs. Shantha Sund ram as Auxiliary Board Member for Malaysia and Singapore. 9 Baha'i Holy Days first tabulatd in circu lar to all government departments. NSA of Thailand met for consultation with NSA of Malaysia - (in Penang). 1974 First pioneers to Bang ladesh - Joe Swaminathan of K.L. and Sunny Lim Beng Joo of Penang. First three-day deepening institutes conducted in Tam il - in Kedah. Conclusion of Malaysia's One Year Plan. First conference of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board Members held in Kuala Lumpur. Soh Aik Leng of Penang appointed fi rst assistant ABM for West Malaysia. 9 Baha 'i Holy Days officially listed in Government Gazette in West Malaysia. The NSA of Malaysia and the NSA of Eastern Malaysia and Brunei were merged together. Five Year Global Plan was launched at a special conference at Port Dickson. Continental Pioneer Committee transferred from Persia to Malaysia by Universa l House of Justice. Malaysian Baha'i News ceased publication in this format.

(These milestones are a record of major events in West Malaysia upto July 1974).

Th.e collage on the cover of this issue is symbolic of the sea of events t hat have taken place in Malaysia over the last decade. The editor r egrets that lack of space and the absence of important photographs have made this a very incomplete coverage. The a rt work was done by Loh Wan Wan, a Penang youth.

Printed by The Ganesh Printin•g Works, Penang.

51