Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus put up an impressive show to bag a series of awards in the final of the Yayasan Sarawak English World Style Debate Challenge Trophy which was held at Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Auditorium, Institut Perguruan Batu Lintang in Kuching, on 26 August, 2008.
Debating on the theme The world food and energy crisis to the motion “This House believes that food should not be used as fuel”, its team of Nicholas Chong Ewe Hai, Stephen Obed Swai and Shariman Hoklai Bin Sarudu emerged First Runner Up.
Stephen Obed Swai, Swinburne Sarawak’s international student from Tanzania, also won the award for Best Debater in the Grand Final.
The Overall Best Speaker, Second and Third Best Speakers in the preliminary rounds were won by Swinburne Sarawak’s Sophia Ong Pei Chen, Syed Sharbini Rafie Bin Syed Habib and Stephen Obed Swai respectively.
The Best Speaker of English award was won by Syed Sharbini Rafie Bin Syed Habib.
In the Public Speaking Challenge, Stephen Obed Swai emerged First Runner Up.
Datin Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Assistant Minister (Human Resource and Training) in the Chief Minister’s Office represented the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, in giving away the prizes.
Also present at the finals were YB Larry Sng, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office, Dato Sri Haji Adenan Bin Haji Satem, Chairman of Yayasan Sarawak and Datu Haji Abdul Rashid Aziz, the Deputy Chairman of Yayasan Sarawak.
More than 10 institutions of higher learning from Sarawak took part in the preliminary rounds of the World Style debate which was held at UiTM Sarawak’s campus in Kota Samarahan from 19 to 21 August.