Village chiefs reimagine leadership as service to society

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In the heart of a city where enduring traditions meet contemporary aspirations, ten tok batin—traditional chiefs from Orang Asli villages—along with six representatives attending on behalf of other village leaders, stepped into Malaysia’s national Bahá’í Center for a historic gathering.

The chiefs were greeted in a dignified ceremony by members of Malaysia’s Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly, who placed traditional straw-woven tempok crowns upon their heads. It was a modest gesture, yet it encapsulated the spirit animating the three-day gathering: to reconceptualize leadership itself as a sacred trust, an act of humble service guided by the principle articulated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that each person should strive to serve humanity.

A historic first, forged in friendship

The first tok batin conference on this scale, jointly convened by the Spiritual Assembly and the Central Regional Bahá’í Council, drew participants from fourteen Orang Asli communities across Peninsular Malaysia’s central highlands and river valleys. Many traveled for over six hours to reach Kuala Lumpur, motivated by the rare opportunity to reflect and consult with peers facing similar challenges.

Unlike meetings for formal briefings, the participants remarked that this gathering was unique. Al-Shahin Deraoh, tok batin of Chang Baru village, noted that “this forum is for us to profoundly consider and discuss the development of our villages, both spiritually and materially.”

The gathering emerged from a recognition that sustainable village development requires more than individual leadership—it demands the coordinated efforts of institutions, the community, and individuals.

A heavy responsibility, shared

The tok batin hold a unique position in Malaysian society. Their authority is at once formal and deeply personal, touching every dimension of village life. Yet, as Dahali Bah Nanep, tok batin of Berindu village stated: “Sometimes it feels like I am alone against forces too large to move and separated by vast distances from others who might share similar challenges.”

That sense of isolation was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Through candid and heartfelt consultations, these village leaders discussed the daunting issues facing their communities—land encroachment, environmental degradation, inadequate schooling, and social ills such as substance abuse and early marriage—which cast long shadows on the lives of the inhabitants.

Despite these challenges, a spirit of hope prevailed, stimulated by examples of community resilience and grassroots initiatives, where increasing numbers of individuals—from children and youth to parents and elders—are applying spiritual principles to address the realities of daily life.

Listening to the future

The Central Region of Malaysia presents a unique landscape where a growing number of people in Orang Asli villages are embracing a vibrant and transformative pattern of Bahá’í life. In these communities, Bahá’í agencies and institutions—such as the Central Regional Bahá’í Council—collaborate with traditional leadership structures to create spaces for genuine consultation and to cultivate unified action.

Youth participants significantly enriched the consultations, emphasizing how Bahá’í moral and spiritual educational programs practically shape community action.

Syazira, a youth from Chang Lama village, explained the power of these moral educational programs in fostering harmony: “I live in a community with people from different backgrounds and faiths, and I am learning to work with all people regardless of their beliefs, especially through service projects.” She described a simple yet impactful service project carried out by a few other youth in which they delivered accumulated mail within the village, nurturing trust and unity.

Suhairy, another young person from Chang Lama, shared how moral education programs informed his sense of purpose, saying, “I’ve learned to better understand the reality of my community. I’ve learned qualities necessary for meaningful service and how spiritual teachings inspire tangible action.”

Fostering collaborative leadership

A spirit of shared purpose and collective responsibility permeated the gathering, made more powerful by the experience of coming together. In sessions punctuated by prayers and the display of traditional arts, the tok batin reflected on the principle that progress—whether material or spiritual—cannot rest on a single pair of shoulders.

Bah Sari Bah Isap, tok batin of the Ngening village, expressed a sentiment felt by many: “This gathering has uplifted our spirits and reminded us that we are not working in isolation but as part of a large family striving together for the betterment of society.”

Lim Soon Kam, Chair of the Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly, expanded upon this theme in his keynote address: “True leadership does not originate from individual power but from humble service—a commitment to humanity grounded in justice, equality, and oneness.”

The gathering emphasized how traditional leadership structures, Bahá’í agencies and institutions, the community, and individuals can all work together to strengthen their villages. Rather than replacing existing authority, the aim is to create complementary relationships based on trust that multiply the capacity for positive change.

Cultivating a culture of hope

In an inspiring moment, participants shared their aspirations for their “dream village”—a place where self-sufficiency, collective advancement, material and spiritual education, and places of worship form the bedrock of community life.

Dr. Lim added: “You stand between tradition and progress, and you can help shape a future society that is aligned with its rich cultural heritage and also with the needs of an ever-advancing world.” He encouraged the tok batin to embrace their roles not only as “custodians of the past, but as designers of the future.”

Reflecting on the gathering, Idayu Yusof, Secretary of the Central Regional Bahá’í Council stated: “This conference affirmed a profound truth: that recognizing the nobility and inherent capacity of every individual empowers entire communities to take charge of their own development.”

Ms. Yusof added: “It reminds us that real transformation emerges not merely from external initiatives, but from profound internal shifts in the way we work together and serve one another.”

The tok batin expressed determination to continue these conversations, recognizing that the challenges they face require sustained collaboration rather than isolated efforts. Many expressed a desire to meet annually, creating ongoing opportunities for collective learning and advancement of thought.