At the end of a recent retreat held in Ranchan Pool Resort, about 70 km from the state capital Kuching, four additonal clusters have been considered for possible launching of Intensive Programme of Growth (IGP).

Presently, there are only two clusters which have launched IGP, namely, Kuching and Miri clusters, which started their first cycle of growth in March and April this year, respectively. Both clusters are now nearing the end of their first cycle and will soon be preparing for the launching of their respective second cycle.

Kuching 23-24 October 2004: The third state level institutional meeting was held at the Crown Towers, Pending with Counsellor Paul Lample from the International Teaching Centre as the guest of honour. Also present was Counsellor George Soraya. Among the 139 participants were representatives of the various national committees and institutions based in Kuching, Regional Council of both north and south region and the teaching committee of central region. Nine ATCs from the southern region and ATC Mukah. Local Assemblies of Miri and Sibu and those of Kuching-Padawan-Samarahan communities were also represented.

Verbal comments from a few participants showed that the meeting not only had instilled fresh inspiration but also had brought about a higher level of understanding regarding the whole process of entry by troops. It had assured the community that it is treading the right path, albeit slowly. The main issues to analyze now are “Where are we now?”, “Where are we going?”, and “How are we going to the place we want to go?”

The newly elected and appointed Regional Council members of both the northern and southern region had a joint meeting with Counsellors, members of the National Spiritual Assembly and the Auxiliary Board on the weekend of 27-28 December 2003, in Kuching. Initially the meeting looked like “business as usual”, but towards the end of it most participants realized and admitted that the councils would bear heavy responsibility in the future unlike that of their predecessors, the regional teaching committees.

A very successful Winter School was held at Sematan Beach from 6 – 9 December 2002. It was attended by about 180 Baha’is and was graced with the presence of Counsellor George Soraya, Auxiliary Board Members Bunsie Tunton, Kalong Katik, Rahmi Kho and most members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sarawak.

Miri Community was privileged to play host to the visit of Counsellor George Soraya as well as all the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Sarawak from 19.10.2002 to 20.10.2002. The NSA members were all here for their monthly meeting which started on 19.10.2002

While here, the Counsellor and NSA members took the opportunity to inform all the friends gathered about the possible formation of a Regional Baha’i Council for Northern Sarawak. This council will oversee the Baha’i activities in northern Sarawak. The character of this Council is similar to the Sarawak State Baha’i Council which was in existence from 1991 to 1998.