Page 44 - YBAM 50th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine

THE JOURNEY OF YBAM Malaysia is the second country in the world
to conduct National Buddhist Examination
– A REMINISCENCE after Sri Lanka. The first YBAM National
Convention (in 1972) adopted the resolution
Writer | Leong Kok Hing Sek Chin Yong that the YBAM and Malaysian Buddhist
Gan Chee Wei Association (MBA) to jointly organise a united
Buddhist examination to assess students’ level
of understanding from the Dharma classes
Since its founding in 1970, activities organised and Sunday schools across the country and
by YBAM are always forward-looking and improve the quality of Buddhist education.
contribute to the development of Buddhism. After the convention, the YBAM delegates
Numerous activities and policies of YBAM consulted Venerable Kim Beng, Venerable
in the past 50 years have been making Kim Seng, and Venerable P. Pemaratana and
profound impacts as well. Venerable K Sri Pemaloka from Theravada
tradition, for their advice and opinions. On
State Liaison Committees Joint 24 February 1973, the Malaysian Buddhist
Meeting Examination Syndicate was formed with
(The National-States Joint Meeting) representatives from MBA and YBAM.
On 2 June 1973, the Malaysian Buddhist
To consolidate and strengthen the relationship Examination Syndicate announced details
between YBAM headquarters (HQ) and the of the examinations, textbooks, and context
member organisations in each state, strong of questions. The examination is divided into
communication channels are vital to facilitate elementary, beginner, intermediate, and
the bottom-up and top-down transmission of advanced groups, and to be conducted in
messages. As soon as YBAM was formed, Chinese and English languages. The first
the establishment of state committees began. examination was held on 4 April 1974, and
It was first named the State Subcommittee, the subsequent dates were changed to 1
then renamed State Liaison Committee (SLC). May and 31 August. The annual Buddhist
The following SLCs were established: examination has been carried out without fail
KL/Selangor (1970), Penang (1971), Kedah since 1974.
(1971), Perak (1972), Terengganu (1972),
Melaka (1977), Johor (1978), Sarawak Training of Buddhist Talents and
(1981), Pahang (1983), Sabah (1984), Perlis Buddhist Youth Training Camp
(1985), Kelantan (1986) and Negeri Sembilan
(1990). In 1979, the YBAM HQ organised the Since the 1970s, the number of Buddhist
first National-States Joint Meeting (NSJM), organisations have been increasing speedily.
and it has been held annually since then. The Due to talent shortage, YBAM hosted a
main purpose of NSJM is to plan the activities National Youth Leadership Training Course in
for the upcoming year and coordinate the Kuala Lumpur in 1972. This course inspired
activities across the states. The joint meeting YBAM to nurture talent and to carry out
is a small convention that strengthens the different types of leadership training. In
functions and roles of the SLCs. 1977, YBAM successfully organised two
Dharma class teacher exchange sessions
National Buddhist Examination and began to commence different courses,
042 such as Dharma class teacher courses, music
teacher courses, children’s teaching courses, CLBG (Company Limited by Guarantee)
and Buddhist chanting courses to improve the registered under the Companies Act 1965
teaching quality of Buddhist classes. In 1978, without the word ‘Berhad’, and a non-profit
YBAM started the course for training Dharma company operating under the supervision
speakers. After years of development, the of the Companies Commission of Malaysia
Dharma speakers training course appeared (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, SSM).
under different names, aimed at encouraging Although it is a public limited company by
more people to serve as Dharma speakers, to nature, there is no registered share capital,
make up for the shortage of Dharma teachers and the foundation’s financial resources
from Sangha members. come from donations from members and
fundraising activities. There are six founding
As the number of young people studying directors: Low Hooi Siah, Tan Gin Soon, Leong
Buddhism increases, to strengthen their Kok Hing, Khoo Kok Lim, Kung Kok Chye,
understanding of the Dharma and experience and Oh Lye Kim. According to the website
the Buddhist way of life, from 1974 onwards, of the SSM, the YBBM is the first foundation
the Buddhist Youth Training Camp has established by a Buddhist organisation. From
become a regular activity of the YBAM. At 25 to 27 May 1990, the 10th YBAM National
first, the Buddhist Youth Training Camp was Convention in Kuantan adopted a resolution
organised at the national level. However, to rename the name of the foundation from
to accommodate students from all over the YBAM Foundation to YBBM to implement
country, the training camp was changed to the foundation’s goal of serving Buddhism
regional level later, which was divided into nationwide.
Northern Region (Penang, Kedah, Perlis,
Perak), Southern Region (Melaka, Negeri The foundation once established the Young
Sembilan, Selangor, Johor), East Coast Buddhist Cultural Services (later transformed
Region (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang) into Manjushri Sdn Bhd), Buddhist Audio
and East Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak). After Visual Library, Personal Charity Fund /
that, the SLCs organised the training for their Memorial Charity Fund to provide tertiary
respective states, and the training camp education grant, foreign Buddhist education
evolved into a state-level programme. After scholarship, examination fees subsidy,
the 1990s, many organisations are also varsities’ Buddhist activities sponsorship,
financially capable to host similar training Buddhist thesis award, etc. At the same time,
camps under different names. The objective the foundation also set up a Sangha fund to
of the Buddhist Youth Training Camp is to support the welfare of the Sangha members,
attract and connect with young Buddhists. hires professional Dharma speakers and
To enhance Buddhist youth’s in-depth provides the incentive for Dharma speakers,
understanding of the Dharma, YBAM also monthly sponsorship for the library of
started the Advanced Dharma Study Class in Persatuan Pengurusan Tokong Teng Wai Koi
1979. Ipoh and Persatuan Kebajikan Komuniti Pu
Ai Pulau Pinang in their pioneering stage,
Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia sponsored the courses of Pahang Buddhist
(YBBM) Association, established the Pu-Men Children
Aid Scheme, and sponsors YBAM activities,
On 26 November 1979, YBAM has including Taiping Buddhist Youth Training
successfully registered the YBBM. It is a Centre, Eastern Horizon, Dharma Digest, 043
50 YEARS OF DHARMA PRO PA GATION CO NTINUING THE MIS SION IN THE 5G ER A