KUCHING – SMK Lutong from Miri has been crowned champion at the 15th Swinburne Sarawak Inter-School Debating Championship (SSIDC) held at Swinburne’s Sarawak campus recently.
Since SSIDC’s inception in 2006, this represents the first team from Miri to win the debate tournament for the senior category (Form 4 to 5). Team members Bong Sing Yi, Daphne Yeo Lok Yin and Roderic Thang Ben Win defeated SMK Batu Lintang’s Aaron Simson, Chester Kueh Shi Yang and Nophel Enoch Chong on the motion This House believes that automatons should replace humans in jobs that require predictable physical and cognitive tasks (e.g. truck drivers).
In the junior category (Form 1 to 3), Ashton Gregory anak Alexander Likan, David Luk Ku Chian, and Wan Faruq bin Wan Daud from SM Lodge defeated the SMK Batu Lintang team of Benson Wong Baa Sing, Isaac Poh Yi Cheng and Shana Elizabeth Law Shen Yee on the motion This House believes that the US government should implement a single payer health insurance system.
Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, SSIDC is the largest English debating championship in Borneo. Running its 15th year, 306 students from all over the country and state took part in this year’s championship. They comprised of 68 teams in the senior category and 34 teams in the junior category.
Thirty-four schools were represented with four schools from Peninsular Malaysia taking part including Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka, Methodist Boys’ School, Kuala Lumpur, Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak, Negeri Sembilan and SM Sains Kota Tinggi, Johor. Additionally, Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School was the first school from Sabah to participate in SSIDC.
In Sarawak, the majority of teams came from Kuching while other participating schools included teams from SM Kai Dee Bintulu, MRSM Mukah, as well as both SMK Chung Hua Miri and SMK Lutong from Miri.
Other participating schools were SMK St Anthony from Sarikei, and both SMK Kota Samarahan and SMK Pesantren Taib Mahmud from Kota Samarahan.
The Best Debater in the Final titles for both Senior and Junior categories were awarded to Daphne Yeo Lok Yin and David Luk Ku Chian respectively. Meanwhile, the Overall Best Debater in the preliminary rounds for both Senior and Junior categories respectively went to Jaypheth Balang and Daphne Ngu from St Joseph’s Private School.
Aimed to encourage students to persevere and strive for improvement, awards for Most Promising Team and Most Improved Team were presented. To encourage students to improve their English, an award for the Best Non-Native Speaker of English in both categories was also awarded. A complete list of the winners is provided below.
Speaking at the awards presentation ceremony, Swinburne’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Professor John Wilson commended all the students taking part in the tournament for developing critical thinking and oratory skills which would help them in their university studies and future workplaces.
This year’s debate themes included motions on Education, Health, Law, Sports and Technology. In addition, an Environment round sponsored by long-time partner Wildlife Conservation Society saw students debating motions such as This House regrets the environmental movements’ support of child icons such as Greta Thunberg.
In between debate rounds, debaters were treated to games and activities including Kahoots by the Swinburne Sarawak Green Club and musical chairs. Students were also encouraged to write their thoughts on the present and future of the environment on ‘leaves’ that were attached to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Tree of Life made from recycled plastic bottles. Outdoors, the students fastened ‘locks of conservation and debate’ around the campus as a reminder of their commitment.
Other sponsors included Asian Arks, Data Print, the English Language Centre, John’s Pie, Saramanis Sdn Bhd and Shine Pharmacy. Supported by the different departments in the University, prizes for games and lucky draws were contributed by the offices of Marketing & Student Recruitment, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Swinburne Sarawak Library, and the Swinburne Sarawak Student Council.
Results for the 15th Swinburne Sarawak Inter-School Debating Championship 2020
Junior Category
Champions: SM Lodge comprising Ashton Gregory anak Alexander Likan, David Luk Ku Chian and Wan Faruq bin Wan Daud
Runners-Up: SMK Batu Lintang comprising Benson Wong Baa Sing, Isaac Poh Yi Cheng and Shana Elizabeth Law Shen Yee
Best Non-Native Speaker of English: David Luk Ku Chian from SM Lodge
Overall Best Debater in the Preliminary Rounds: Daphne Ngu from St Joseph’s Private School
2nd Best Debater: Caroline Hii Song Ting from SMK Chung Hua Miri
3rd Best Debater was won by Shana Elizabeth Law Shen Yee from SMK Batu Lintang
4th Best Debater: Alisha Laiqa binti Harith Alvin Cyril from Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka
5th Best Debater: Shawna Sim Yuk Ning from SMK Chung Hua Miri
Most Promising Junior Team: St Joseph’s Private School
- Abigail Samantha,
- Daphne Ngu, and
- Ting Ji Zia
Most Improved Junior Team: SMK St Thomas
- Aaron Jensen anak Charlie,
- David Ajith Yeo Yeung Een, and
- Ezra Shemayah
Best Sarawakian Team: St Joseph’s Private School:
- Edmund Wong
- Jerard Lau, and
- Jordan Lai
Senior Category
Champions: SMK Lutong comprising Bong Sing Yi, Daphne Yeo Lok Yin and Roderic Thang Ben Win
Runners-Up: SMK Batu Lintang comprising Aaron Simson, Chester Kueh Shi Yang and Nophel Enoch Chong
Best Non-native Speaker of English: Aymil Hyman bin Zamlis from Sekolah Dato Abdul Razak
Overall Best Debater in the Preliminary Rounds: Jaypheth Balang from St Joseph’s Private School
2nd place: Nathan Ho Ee Hern from Lodge International School
3rd place: Caelystar Valentina Ng Mei Zher from Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka
4th place: Nicole Tan from Chung Hua Middle School No. 1,
5th place: Arianna Saiful from Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka
Most Promising Senior Team: Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka
- Adam Ilyas bin Admi
- Arianna binti Saiful
- Caelystar Valentina Ng Mei Zhe
Most Improved Senior Team: SMK Batu Lintang
- Aaron Lo Ken Kiat
- Emmanuel Fung Khang Yu, and
- Paw Ying Liang
Best Sarawakian Team: St Joseph’s Private School
- Jaypeth Balang
- Lau Zhi You, and
- Megan Goh Wen Xing
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