About Us
A Message from the District Director
Welcome to District 87, where members across Brunei Darussalam, East Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste come together to develop communication and leadership skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Guided by our district theme, The Power of ONE, we believe that every member has the ability to make a difference. One speech can build confidence. One leadership opportunity can inspire growth. One act of service can strengthen a club and positively impact a community.
District 87 is enriched by the diversity of its members, united by a shared commitment to learning, leadership, and excellence. Whether you are a prospective member, a first-time visitor, or a seasoned Toastmaster, I invite you to explore our website and discover the many opportunities available to learn, lead, and grow.
Together, let us continue to inspire, empower, and succeed.
Desmond Chieng, DTM
District Director, District 87
District Mission: We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.
Toastmasters International is a global nonprofit organization that focuses on developing public speaking and leadership skills through a structured program. It was founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley and now has over 16,000 clubs in 145 countries. Each club provides a supportive and constructive environment where members can practice speaking in front of an audience, receiving feedback, and improving their communication skills over time.
Each meeting typically includes:
- Prepared Speeches: Members deliver speeches that are designed to develop specific communication skills. These are evaluated by fellow members, who provide constructive feedback.
- Impromptu Speaking (Table Topics): Members practice speaking off-the-cuff on random topics, helping them think quickly and articulate ideas effectively.
- Speech Evaluations: Constructive feedback is a key element. Members give evaluations to help speakers improve while highlighting strengths.
The skills learned in Toastmasters are valuable for personal and professional growth, helping members gain confidence, improve their presentations, and become better leaders.
Toastmasters International Core Values
Integrity – We match our actions with our words, demonstrate honesty and trustworthiness, communicate with sincerity and thoughtfulness, have the courage to acknowledge our mistakes, and always strive to do the right thing.
Respect – We treat all with dignity, welcome diverse perspectives, acknowledge all contributions, believe that all have positive intent, practice mutual accountability, and critique but never demean.
Service – We strive to provide high-value, exceptional support by being responsive, attentive, and passionate in fulfilling our duties as individuals and as an organization to all.
Excellence – We consistently strive to meet or exceed expectations by upholding the Toastmasters Promise, nurturing a collaborative environment, innovating to deliver creative solutions, and optimizing quality to produce superior service.
About District 87
District 87 Toastmasters covers Toastmasters clubs Brunei, East Malaysia, Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Falls under Region 12 jurisdiction.
District 87 came into existence following its official split from District 51 (now District 51 and 102) on 1 July 2010.
Across the years, the legacy has been passed down through these District Governor / District Directors:
Past – 2010 : District 51
2010 – 2011 : Mohd Ariff Azahari, DTM (Kuching, Sarawak)
2011 – 2012 : Mien Soenari, DTM (Jakarta, Indonesia)
2012 – 2013 : Richard Gontusan, DTM (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah)
2013 – 2014 : Datin Grace Chiu, DTM (Sandakan, Sabah)
2014 – 2015 : Sutarno Kho, DTM (Medan, Indonesia)
2015 – 2016 : Richard Tsen, DTM (Miri, Sarawak)
2016 – 2017: Ivy Lau, DTM (Kuching, Sarawak)
2017 – 2018 : Reuben Chin (Brunei)
2018 – 2019 : Liana Kwan, DTM (Medan, Indonesia)
2019 – 2020 : Wong Toh Hee, DTM (Sibu, Sarawak)
2020 – 2021 : Allen Ang, DTM (Brunei)
2021 – 2022 : Zilva Boaz DTM (Jakarta, Indonesia)
2022 – 2023 : Agustinus Widjaya, DTM (Jakarta, Indonesia)
2023 – 2024 : Nur Zaihanirah Zaini, DTM (Kuching, Sarawak)
2024 – 2025 : Miranda Rumi, DTM (Bali, Indonesia)
2025 – 2026 : Suharjo Setio, DTM (Medan, Indonesia)
District 87 is also the home of The First Malaysian who ever became the International President in Toastmasters International, Datuk Dr John Lau Pang Heng, DTM – The Past International President 2012-2013.
Today, District 87 host over 118 clubs, 2000++ members and growing!
For more information on Toastmasters, visit www.toastmasters.org