The second Daisaku Ikeda Memorial Lecture was held on 26 January with distinguished speakers sharing their insights on Soka Gakkai International (SGI) president Dr Daisaku Ikeda’s legacy of global peace-building and its enduring impact. The International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC-IIUM) organised this event for the second year running at its campus. This year’s event comes with added significance as it fell on the 50th anniversary of the SGI’s establishment.

In welcoming the participants, 280 of whom were onsite with another 600 viewing it live on ISTAC’s Youtube channel, ISTAC-IIUM dean Prof Datuk Dr Abdelaziz Berghout paid tribute to President Ikeda’s indefatigable efforts in promoting dialogue for peace, and lauded SGM’s cooperation with ISTAC-IIUM, including on this memorial lecture which focuses on peace, education and envisioning a better future. 

In his remarks, SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai praised the significance of holding the lecture on SGI’s 50th anniversary. Mr Koh hoped that the participants would be inspired by President Ikeda’s belief in the power of individuals to drive change and foster unity through recognising our shared humanity.

Prof Datuk Dr Abdelaziz Berghout	Koh Sia Feai

Three students from Soka International School Malaysia also enlivened the event with a recitation of “Hope Is Life’s Treasure,” an ode to the power of hope in braving life’s struggles. President Ikeda wrote this poem in 2012 on his 84th birthday. The youths’ performance embodied the lines from the poem, “The greatest hope for the future / lies in Soka youth.”

The first speaker, Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, formerly vice-chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Open University Malaysia president, discussed president Ikeda’s humanistic education philosophy, which is student-centred and will help people navigate the complexities of today’s world. He added that it was in line with Malaysia’s national education philosophy. 

Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Baharuddin, adviser to and former director of the Centre of Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya, discussed the importance of spirituality and people-centred movements. She drew inspiration from Planetary Citizenship, President Ikeda’s dialogue with renowned futurist and activist Dr Hazel Henderson. She praised the book’s discussion on grassroots globalists and actions to combat the climate crisis, and advocated for holistic, spiritually-grounded and action-oriented approach to global challenges.

Prof Datuk Berghout then spoke on President Ikeda’s vision for world peace based on an individual’s positive development through cultivating humanistic values. “Solving humanity is solving ourselves. Solving ourselves contributes to solving what humanity is facing.” President Ikeda’s efforts in dialogue is a vital framework for individuals to promote peace, and that changing the world begins with change in individuals. 

SGM president Johnny Ng then spoke of his personal connection with President Ikeda, whom he took as his mentor since his youth. Through studying his mentor’s peace ideals and efforts in founding institutes such as the Min-On Concert Association and Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, he and SGM members have been promoting peace through SGM activities such as Run for Peace, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and the Lotus Sutra Exhibition. 

The moderator Dr Ahmad El-Muhammady Muhammad Uthman summed up the speakers’ contributions, stating that they have demonstrated how President Ikeda’s ideals and actions are important in creating a better world. 

Cuban ambassador HE Florentino Batista Gonzalez commended the event for celebrating President Ikeda’s leadership and contributions in promoting peace and humanism. “I believe highlighting President Ikeda’s wisdom is important as we need people who actively promote peace and genuine humanity, beyond philosophical and religious beliefs, more than ever.” UKM student Muhd Anuar Abdul Ghani was impressed by the speakers’ sharing and gained knowledge about nation-building through education. “I must put into practice what I have learnt today.”