Tan Sri Dr. Ghauth Jasmon, Vice Chancellor of the University of Malaya, officiated the book launch of Malay edition of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda’s dialogue “A Lifelong Quest for Peace” entitled “Sepanjang Hayat Mencari Keamanan: Sebuah Dialog” published by the University of Malaya. The event was held at Wisma Kebudayaan SGM in Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL.
“A Lifelong Quest for Peace (Sepanjang Hayat Mencari Keamanan)” is a record of the dialogue between Mr. Daisaku Ikeda and Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel laureate, on their lifelong devotion to the cause of peace.
The dialogue covers many important topics, such as war and peace, moral decay, euthanasia, and population explosion. The book contains the ardent wishes, hope and inspiration of these two great men for world peace, and the health and happiness of the people of the world.
Many of Mr. Daisaku Ikeda’s works have been translated and published in more than 28 languages. Besides “Sepanjang Hayat Mencari Keamanan: Sebuah Dialog”, Mr. Ikeda’s works such as “Choose Life,” “Global Civilisation – A Buddhist –Islamic Dialogue,” and “A Dialogue Between East and West” have been translated into the Malay language and published in Malaysia.
Mr. Koh Sia Feai, General Director of Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) in his speech thanked Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohammad Redzuan Othman, the Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in University of Malaya, for editing this book, as well as Prof. Dr. Md Sidin Ahmad Ishak, the Deputy Dean, for the Malay translation, making this important work available to our country in our national language.
Mr. Koh quoted the founder of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation in the United States, Dr. David Krieger’s comment that Mr. Ikeda’s works served as great inspirations to the youth, and is the greatest gift he offers to the people of the world. Mr. Koh hopes these works of Mr. Ikeda will increase knowledge and become the fountain of wisdom to the readers.
Tan Sri Dr. Ghauth Jasmon, Vice Chancellor of the University of Malaya, in his speech complimented Mr. Ikeda’s contribution in promoting world peace. He wished there were many more “Daisaku Ikeda” in this world. University of Malaya conferred honourary doctorate degree to Mr. Ikeda in 2010 as recognition to his outstanding contribution in promoting peace, culture and education globally.
Following the book launch, SGM also presented 150 books to the library of University of Malaya. This was the second book presentation after Mr. Daisaku Ikeda presented books to UM in 1988.
Tan Sri Dr. Ghauth Jasmon then spoken on the Peace Lecture entitled “Islam the Religion of Peace, Progress & Prosperity”.
The event was held in conjunction with SGM’s “Month of Peace”. SGM kick-started the Month of Peace with “Run For Peace” on 8 September with 57,000 participated at 14 locations nationwide; On 15 September, SGM held a movie appreciation in tribute to the late Yasmin Ahmad. The book launch, books presentation and peace lecture marked the finale of series of events to promote peace by SGM in September.
