The SGM Amala Group was formed on October 28, 1989 under the leadership of then SGM General Director the late Mrevolutionr Koe Teng Hong. The group’s members are SGM members who are ethnic Indians. Each month, they conduct discussions meetings in Tamil based on the study material published in Flow, and various activities. In addition, they also worked alongside fellow members in their local districts to advance kosen-rufu.

SGM Penang Centre

In November 2017, SGM Amala Group members held joyous gatherings to celebrate the anniversary of the group’s establishment. The meetings, conducted in Tamil and English, also saw the attendance of many guests. After attending these joyous meetings, and being moved by the victorious experiences of Amala Group members, several of these guests decided to practise Nichiren Buddhism and join SGM!

In his congratulatory message, SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai urged group members to actively share Buddhism with the people around them in order to respond to SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s call, stating that it “is an act of relieving suffering and imparting joy, an act of great good that enables people to become happy. It is the work of Buddhas and bodhisattvas.” He also urged all present to study President Ikeda’s guidance and steadfastly walk the path of mentor and disciple. 

SGM Culture Centre

In Kuala Lumpur, celebratory meetings were held at the SGM Selayang Centre (held on November 26), SGM Kuala Lumpur Culture Centre and the SGM Culture Centre (both on November 19). At the SGM Kuala Lumpur Region 5 celebrations held in the SGM Culture Centre, attended by over 120 people, Valli Murugan, a Women Division member, shared how she overcame her family’s initial opposition to her practising Nichiren Buddhism to gain her family’s trust. Through faith, she also overcame the challenges posed by her husband’s sudden passing and build a harmonious family in which her children are also practising. Thila Kasinathan from the Young Women Division meanwhile spoke about how joining SGM enabled her to overcome financial and family problems to become an entrepreneur. SGM Young Men Division Vice-Leader Dinesh Chandren was on hand to encourage the audience, with other national leaders in attendance.

At the Kuala Lumpur Region 1 celebration in the SGM Selayang Centre, over 20 guests attended, and several of the guests decided to practise Nichiren Buddhism and join SGM as a result of being moved by the experiences and the vibrancy of the Amala Group members. Close to 80 people attended this celebration, with SGM Men Division Vice-Leader Lee Son Chee among them.

SGM Selayang Centre

Up north, SGM Penang Amala Group members successfully invited 25 guests to the celebration on November 19, held at the SGM Penang Centre at Jalan Burmah on the island. SGM Penang pioneer Datuk Yeoh Joo Saik was on hand to encourage the participants. In Selangor, Amala Group members had their celebration during the state’s November 2017 Soka Family Day event on November 5.

The celebrations proclaimed the victory of the SGM Amala Group in 2017, especially in expanding the ranks of Bodhisattvas of the Earth and enabling people to become happy.