Run for Peace is a noncompetitive biennial event organized by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) that encourages people from all walks of life, particularly young people, to come together for the sake of peace. Runs are held in cities throughout Malaysia over distances usually between 3 and 10 kilometers.

The event in September is the key activity of SGM’s Month of Peace, during which SGM members make special efforts to raise awareness that peace begins with the individual and can be cultivated in daily life through acts of kindness, compassion and understanding.

SGM’s Month of Peace was inspired by Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, who made a Declaration Calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons in front of 50,000 Soka Gakkai youth in Yokohama on 8 September  1957. 

SGM’s largest peace event

Run for Peace is one of the ways in which SGM seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of promoting nuclear abolition and encouraging citizens to challenge ways of thinking that justify hate, violence and discrimination.

Run for Peace is SGM’s largest peace event, and the runs are often flagged off by top government officials or other notable figures. Since the first Run for Peace in 2005, some 400,000 people have participated. About 1,000 people joined the first run; then, in 2015, the run became a nationwide event with more than 92,000 people taking part. In 2019, over 115,000 joined in 28 locations in 13 states. After a three-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, Run for Peace returned in 2023 with 55,000 participants in 23 locations.

Many people look forward to participating in Run for Peace as a family-friendly activity that welcomes people of all ages and that promotes an active and healthy lifestyle while celebrating the value of community and a common wish for peace.

Malaysia is an ethnically and religiously diverse society, and Run for Peace provides an opportunity for people to connect across those differences and form friendships.

A call to action for peace and sustainability

“Peace starts with me!” is the slogan of Run for Peace, reflecting the Soka Gakkai’s philosophy that a positive change within the individual is the basis of a positive change in society. It is a reminder that the actions of each person can make an important contribution to creating harmony and peace in our communities. Efforts to promote the run and spread the ideals of peace facilitate dialogue and exchange, which have lasting effects.

SGM’s largest peace event

Run for Peace focuses on promoting the culture of peace but includes a special emphasis on the issue of nuclear disarmament as well. SGM has been working with like-minded individuals and organizations to hold exhibitions, talks and programs to spread awareness about the abolition of nuclear weapons. During the 2019 run, several Malaysian parliamentarians signed the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Parliamentary Pledge for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). 

Subsequently, on 30 September 2020, Malaysia ratified the TPNW, with the treaty coming into force in January 2021.

In 2023, the phrase “ActNOW for SDGs!” was added, making the full slogan: “Peace Starts with Me, ActNOW for SDGs!” This expanded message highlights the importance of individual action in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, alongside the broader commitment to peace.

SGM has also collaborated with government agencies, NGOs and educational institutions, such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Department of National Unity and Integration, state governments, the Malaysian Red Crescent and many others, in organizing Run for Peace events in different locations.

Comments from 2023 participants:

Ros Areesah, who joined the Selangor run

“This is my first time participating in this event. I have built new friendships with people from different ethnicities. And I now have a better understanding of the SDGs. Run for Peace has taught me that I can initiate actions for peace by being friendly with others.”

Jess See, who participated in the Penang run

“This event spreads the significance of peace to the wider population … I think organizing the Seeds of Hope and Action [environmental] exhibition and promoting the SDGs are excellent initiatives. I am determined to turn what I have learned into actions in my daily life.”

Dato’ Masri Razali, mayor of Seremban

“This noncompetitive run is well-received by people from various ethnic groups. Many participants are seen coming with their families. I fully agree with the event’s slogan, highlighting that even small steps will eventually bring about great results as long as we are moving in the right direction.”