26th YBAM Biennial National Convention

26th YBAM Biennial National Convention | RAIA Hotel & Convention Centre | 03-05.06.2023

The 26th Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) Biennial National Convention (BNC) with the theme of Cultivate the Community with Dharma, Shaping the New Era with Wisdom, Together We Work for Malaysian Buddhism’ officially concluded yesterday. Brother Yong Kuei Yoong has been elected as the 27th YBAM President. The BNC was held at the RAIA Hotel & Convention Centre, Alor Setar, Kedah for 3 days and 2 nights, attracting the participation of a total of 125 delegates from all over the country. The convention was last held in Kedah in 2004.

The Guest of Honour of Closing Ceremony of this BNC was Member of Parliament for Alor Setar, YB Tuan Afnan Hamimi Bin Taib Azamudde. The other attendees included Deputy President of Chinese Young Buddhist Association (CYBA) Ven. Cha-Lee, YBAM Religious Advisors Venerable Chi Huan, Venerable Chuan Wen, Venerable Zong Ping, Venerable Do Hwa, YBAM President Brother Yong Kuei Yoong, Chairperson of Organising Committee of 26th YBAM BNC Brother Lim Kean Boon, YBAM Deputy President Brother Tan Chan Sin, General Secretay Brother Eow Shiang Yen, YBAM Lay Advisors, YBAM Cousultants, YBAM National Council, delegates and observers from YBAM member organisations, representatives from various organisations including Chinese organisations and Buddhist organisations.

Brother Lim Kean Boon thanked all the supporting causes that contributed to the successful 26th YBAM BNC. He also shared the Buddha’s teachings on governing the country, calling on members of the YBAM family to meet frequently to discuss and work together harmoniously. Brother Yong Kuei Yoong, the newly elected President, said that religious organizsations should not only focus on their own practice, but also need to participate in the agenda of national unity. He will continue to work with the new team to build a society full of compassion, wisdom and gratitude in Malaysia, a country with diverse races, religions and cultures.

YB Tuan Afnan Hamimi Bin Taib Azamudden in his closing speech stated that although the ethnic distribution in Kedah is dominated by Malaysian aboriginals, there is room for harmonious coexistence among people of various religions and races. He shared his experience of living in Kuala Lumpur and interacting with other ethnic groups in Kedah. He also emphasised that although there are fundamental differences in teachings of various religions, there are many universal values in common such as shaping a stable society and helping groups in distress. He expressed regrets for the situation of misusing social media to spread religious and racial hatred, and called on everyone to refer to the religious and racial harmony model in Malaysia in early times, making more friends from other religions or races in daily life through mutual understanding, caring for and helping each other in order to shape a nation of unity and national integration together. He also thanked YBAM for inviting him to be the Guest of Honour and hoped that he could work with YBAM in Kedah to promote a culture of mutual tolerance and appreciation among all religions and races.