International Buddhist Programs 2012

It was a busy year for my involvement with international Buddhist programs this year. For the first time ever I participated in a Buddhist program held in Europe.

The World Buddhist Youth Leaders Assembly was held from 1st - 8th December 2012 in Taipei, Taiwan. The whole event was hosted by Ci-Hang Social Welfare Foundation Taiwan. Participants learned about Taiwanese Buddhism thru visits to Chung Tai Shan, Fo Guang Shan, Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation and Dharma Drum Mountain.

As part of the preparation work for the World Buddhist Youth Leaders Assembly 2012, I went to Taiwan in August 2012 with the WFBY Secretary General, Denphong Suwannachairop to visit and had discussion with the host, Ven. Chi Sin and Ven Wei Jing of Ci-Hang Social Welfare Foundation and other co-hosts.

The WFBY 17th General Conference was held in Yeosu, Korea in June 2012. A new Executive Board was elected for the term 2012-2014.

 

The WFBY organized an international program in European soil for the first time in its history when the International Buddhist Youth Forum was held in Germany in April 2012. We also visited UN office in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Went to Taiwan in March 2012 to attend a meeting to review the constitution of WFBY with Ven Wei Jing and Denphong S. Also met Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Centre Abbot in charge Ven. Hui Chuan to discuss on event to be held there in December 2012.

Selangor State Level Wesak Celebrations 2012

Wesak commemorates the three important events in the life of the Buddha- His Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away. These events took place on the full-moon day in the lunar month of Vesakha, which falls between April and May in our conventional calendar. Officially, the first full-moon day of May is designated as Wesak Day in Malaysia. Amongst Buddhists, it is also known as Buddha Jayanti – the Birth of the Enlightened One. Wesak has been declared as a public holiday since 1962, in recognition of Buddhism being the religion with the second largest following in the country.

After His Enlightenment, the Buddha wandered through many parts of India for forty-five years, compassionately disseminating the message of peace without any discrimination as to who his listeners were. Millions followed His teachings and realized their greatest potential as human beings – having attained that unshakable peace of mind and liberation from suffering.

The Buddha left behind a rich legacy of teachings - the Dhamma-Vinaya. Over the last twenty six centuries, people continue to look into His sublime teachings for solace, inspiration and guidance. Throughout history, the disciples of the Buddha – monks, nuns and lay people – have faithfully carried out the message of the Great Teacher, persistently and diligently serving the world with compassion. The contribution of Buddhism towards the spiritual and cultural advancement of humanity is indeed most valuable, and is even recognized by the United Nations.

Recognizing the Buddhist community’s contribution to the state and being the second largest religious community in the state, the State Government of Selangor for the second year continuously will be holding an official Wesak celebration at the Jubli Perak Auditorium, Shah Alam at 7.00 pm, Tuesday, 1st May 2012.This event will be officiated by the Dato’ Menteri Besar of Selangor; Y.A.B. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Abdul Khalid bin Ibrahim.

The program during the celebration includes performance by some of the popular Buddhist performing groups in the country which includes Bodhi Group, Big Chip and Guan Yin Foundation. Dances will be presented by the internationally acclaimed Dua Space Dance Theatre while the Tzu-Chi Buddhist Merit Society will be performing Hand Gestures accompanied by songs. The Fo Guang San Malaysia will be presenting an animation on the Buddha and also other performances.

There will three Wesak Day Floats exhibit outside the auditorium building and an exhibition on the Life of the Buddha will be displayed at the ground floor of the building.

Admission to this celebration cum concert is free of charge. Members of the public are advised to arrive early as general seating’s are on first come first serve basis. Light vegetarian food will be served from 6.00pm onwards at the banquet hall before the performances starts.

Azam dan Garam

Tanggal bulan tujuh hari sembilan,
rakyat bangun demi perubahan.
Berlapik baju Bersih kekuningan,
berganding bahu hadapi cabaran.


Genggam tangan penuh azam,
bawa bunga secebis garam.
Panggilan ubah amat mendalam,
sebelum negara terus tenggelam.


Seruan ke kota dengan aman,
arahan keras tutup jalan.
Berjaya juga dalam ribuan,
laungan bersih kedengaran.


Himpun janakan seluruh negara,
sokongan padu merata dunia.
Tua, muda dan pelbagai warna,
sama-sama berjuang jua.

Ribuan berarak di jalanan,
secara teratur serta aman.
Dengan sorak angkat tangan,
hidup rakyat jadi pegangan.


Himpunan aman dikira engkar,
disambut dengan pemedih mata.
Secebis garam dalam lidah,
agar badan tidak merana.


Rakyat pendam sekian lama,
guna hak untuk bersuara. 
Mohon dasar lebih bermakna,
demi negara yang tercinta.

Loka SK Ng
@Miri, Sarawak
11/07/2011

I am with DAP and proud to be one

Hmm..... maybe those who reads only English paper like The Star and have yet to attend any of the last two DAP fundraising dinners in USJ are not aware of the fact that I has been involved with  DAP for more than a year now. I am a DAP member and proud to be one too.

Since there is free publicity for my branch now, if anyone wanna join our new branch - the DAP USJ East branch, you are welcome to contact me.

And as usual, being a Buddhist activist for more than 20 years now,  if the Buddhist temples/centres you are attached to have any issues to raise especially with the Selangor state government, do continue to contact me too.- Loka SK Ng

From the Star
Saturday June 25, 2011



‘We’re PKR and DAP members’


By EDWARD R. HENRY


edward@thestar.com.my



PETALING JAYA: Two Subang Jaya municipal councillors have admitted that they were appointed under the non-governmental organisation (NGO) quota although they were members of PKR and DAP.



Jaberi Ami, the Kota Raja PKR member and Angkatan Muda Keadilan treasurer and Loka Ng Sai Kai, a USJ DAP branch member also admitted that their political affiliation helped them to get things done.

 Jaberi said it was important to be in a political party to fully understand policies of the state. He added that being in a political party could help in his public service.



“I have been a PKR member since 2008. I have also been with the Muslim Factory Workers Welfare Association, an NGO, for more than five years.


“I see no problem with my political membership. I have an unwavering spirit to fight for the workers' welfare. So, I put forward to the state views on workers' welfare,” he said.

 Ng felt it was important to be committed with the state's policies and “there is nothing wrong in being a party member.”

He has been active in Buddhist organisations for close to 20 years. He has also been Malaysian Youth Council vice-president.



Ng said he joined DAP about 18 months ago and found his membership beneficial in resolving many issues.



“I am committed to the state government's policies, but at the same time I am very firm and independent of state government control, I have no problem voicing out issues affecting the rakyat,” he said.



Both councillors were commenting on The Star's front-page story yesterday which highlighted that only 10 municipal councillors in Selangor were Independents and represented NGOs, compared to the state government's claim of 71.

Coalition of Non-Governmental Organi-sations and Professional Appointed Councillors (Conpac) chairman Tan Jo Hann said he was thankful for grassroots leaders such as Ng and Jabri. “But I am questioning what the Pakatan government had agreed to do. It is a matter of principle.

“Conpac wants 25% of municipal councillors to be full-fledged NGO representatives.”



Tan added that he was not undermining the skills or commitment of the councillors but just wanted state executive councillor Ronnie Liu to honour the 25% quota agreement for NGO representatives.

The Hakka Lady sings for Malaysians

Huang Hong-ying, the Chinese diva specialize in singing Hakka songs

The mostly 4,000 strong Hakka audiences were mesmerized with the Hakka songs belted out by Chinese diva Huang Hong-ying who performed at the Hakka Cultural event in Seri Kembangan recently.

At 49, Huang still at her best during the performance in Seri Kembangan recently

Huang a.k.a the "Hakka Lady" was part of the Hui Zhou city's 17 members cultural group who visited Malaysia recently. Huang shared that Hakka folksongs are the natural voices of the Hakka folks which developed from the daily chores performed by the ordinary folks. Huang was taught the art of singing Hakka folksongs since young by her mother. One of the more popular albums she produced was “Hakka Moi”.  She had performed in various countries in Asia, Europe and Northern America and will continue to promote Hakka folksongs as a flourishing art form. She also sings in Cantonese and Mandarin. Some of her admirers even claimed she is better than the late Teresa Teng.

Cai Ming-Er was happy with the reception given by Malaysian audiences
 

Hui Zhou is situated in Guangdong province in China. The Hakka dialect is widely spoken in Hui Zhou just as in Seri Kembangan. The group also performs in Kuantan and Kota Kinabalu.

Ean Yong, assemblyman for Seri Kembangan who hosted the event

The cultural group performances were under the auspices of the office of Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah and zone 21 - 24 Residents Committee (JKP) of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

Part of the 4,000 crowd thronging the open stage event

The cultural performance was held on an open air stage constructed at the end of Jalan SK 6/1 in Seri Kembangan where many cultural events have been held in the last three years. Residents started trooping in as early as 6.30 in the evening. The event started with performances by local groups which include middle aged ladies performing some dance moves with agility and stamina that can put some younger ones to shame.

MPSJ councillor Tai Cheng Heng presenting a souvenir to Cai Ming-Er, flanked by Ean Yong, Teo Nie Ching and other dignitaries

Present during the event were Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, Serdang Member of Parliament Teo Nie Ching and MPSJ councillors Ng Sze Han, Tai Cheng heng, Chong Hoon Ming and Loka Ng Sai Kai. Also present was deputy director-general of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of Huiyang District, Hui Zhou City Cai Min-Er and Ling Lifang, who is vice chairman of Returned Overseas Chinese Union of Huiyang District, Hui Zhou City. - Loka SK Ng