The History of the Baha’i Faith in Sarawak
Adapted from the book ‘50th Anniversary of the Baha’i Faith in Sarawak 1951-2001′
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In 1951, a Baha’i family came to Sarawak. At that time, except for a few isolated belivers, this vast region of Southeast Asia was virgin territory for the Baha’i Faith. In the days of the Bab, the forerunner of Baha’u'llah, the Baha’i Faith had spread to only two countries, Iran and its neighbour Iraq. In the days of Baha’u'llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, it had spread to 15 countries. Still later, during the ministry of Abdu’l-Baha, His chosen successor, the Baha’i Faith had reached 35 countries. |
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 1946-1950 |
 1963 |
| During the ministry of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, it had reached more than 120 countries. This was the condition of the spread of the Baha’i Faith by 1951, when Baha’i pioneers came to Sarawak and also to neighbouring countries in South-east Asia. The Baha’i Faith has now 182 national spiritual assemblies, and the worldwide Baha’i community is composed of individuals from virtually every background. More than 2,100 different racial and tribal groups are represented, as are individuals from virtually every nationality, religious background and social class. | |
 Mr. Jamshed Fozdar and his wife Parvati and son Vijay came to Kuching in 1951. He was the first Baha’i to come to Sarawak. As a professionally qualified electrical engineer he obtained occupation in the private sector. Baha’is do not have paid missionaries and it is obligatory that all Baha’is seek means of livelihood to support their families and to serve mankind. Jamshed taught in the towns of Sarawak. There were numerous enrolments in Kuching, Sibu and Kanowit. All the early Baha’is were Chinese and a few Indians and there was no effort to teach the natives of Sarawak. In 1953, the first local spiritual assembly of the Baha’is of Kuching was elected. |
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Almost ten years later in December 1960, Mr. Yan Kee Leong, a well-known Malaysian Baha’i visited Sarawak. He accompanied Mr. Philip Suning, an Iban Baha’i from Brunei to the interior of Limbang. Mr Philip Suning was the first of many thousands of Ibans who later enrolled as Baha’is in Sarawak. Ibans are the largest ethnic group in Sarawak.
Other Baha’is came from abroad and settled in various parts of Sarawak, in Kuching and others in Kapit and Sibu. Among them were Mr. M. Maniam and Mr. K. Krishnan from Malaya. Mr. A.F. Beyzai from Iran, Miss Marjorie Lighthall, Miss Doree Thomas and Mr. Earl Mock and Mr. Harlan Lang from USA; Mr. Lele from India. Mr. Jantom ak Ugo and Mr. Endam were among the earliest Baha’is in Limbang. Mr. Endam became the first Iban to attend the Baha’i World Congress in Longon in 1963. He was given a good ‘press’ in London as a visitor from Borneo. Mr. Theenathayalam, Mr. Karuppion, Mr. Ponnusamy, Mr. Sugumaran and family, Capt. Choo Yeok Boon and Grace Choo, Mr. Kuppusamy and Mr. Stanley stayed here long and rendered valuable service. Also of significance were the frequent, highly effective visits by Mr. Ganesamurthy, Mr. Isaac d’Cruz, Mr. Ramanaidu, Mr. Bornoh Das and his brother Ravi. The Baha’i message was carried to indigenous tribes and a spark was lit, bursting soon into a flame. From modest beginnings around Limbang, the movement spread rapidly around Kapit and Kuching. Within another ten years, there were thriving Baha’i communities in all the towns of Sarawak and several hundreds of rural communites, which now includes the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau and Kayan tribes and recently even the Penans. In 1964, there were more than 300 Baha’i communites thoughout Sarawak strong enough to elect their |
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 In the late 1960s, Baha’is began to build their own Baha’i centres in the longhouses. This started in Kpg. Turong in Samarahan and soon there were many Baha’i centres throughout Sarawak. Such Baha’i centres were built only where there was a local spiritual assembly and the local belivers were firm enough to support their own community activities, e.g. they had their own local fund, their own children’s classes, their women’s activities, their regular devotional gaherings, etc. |
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In the 1970s, there were already many Baha’i children in schools. The government was approached to help these Baha’i children to observe their holy days and to abstain from school on those days. The Malaysian government readily gave its consent. Again, the Baha’is approached the government for assistance to help Baha’i children to observe their period of fasting. The government again agreed and instructed the headmasters throughout Sarawak to provide the necessary facilities for observing the fasts.
When Malaysia was formed, the Sarawak Baha’i community became part of the Malaysian Baha’i community and for many years sent delegates to elect the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Malaysia. In 1998, the progress of the Sarawak Baha’is necessitated a new administrative The Baha’i Faith has no clergy and the administration of Baha’i communities is by spiritual assemblies consisting of adult believers residing in that area. These spiritual assemblies are elected by secret ballot without nomination or canvassing. There are no restrictions regarding race or gender or occupation. Any Baha’i over the age of 21 is eligible for election to the spiritual assembly and, if elected, must serve. There are now more than 100 spiritual assemblies throughout Sarawak and hundreds of localities where Bahai’s reside. The local spiritual assemblies have the responsibility to oversee the spiritual and communal activities of the community. Among the activites are the spiritual nurturing of children; the regular gathering of the believers each Baha’i month; the systematic training of the believers; and the |
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