KUCHING – Two foundation engineering students at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus proved they are also good debaters when they won this year’s Swinburne Debate Challenge held on the campus, recently.
The team of Abdul Najib Azhfar bin Aini and Tyler Liew Khang Yuan, who are both in the first semester of their studies, were presented with the championship trophy by Professor Helmut Lueckenhausen, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Swinburne Sarawak at the closing of the event.
The pair beat three other teams to take the championship title in the final which was debated in the British Parliamentary style that saw four teams debating as Opening and Closing Government and Opening and Closing Opposition.
The motion debated was “This House believes that the police have the right to discipline children below the criminal age”.
The team of Jeremy Aaron anak Jeludin, a second year engineering undergraduate and Khoo Rong Jun, a foundation in engineering student, took first runner-up.
The second runner-up title was awarded to the team of Linus Chin Fang Jin, a foundation in business student, and Isaac Yong Zhong Leh, a foundation in IT/multimedia student.
The team of Claudio Jamen Yim and Yeo Tze Hui, both foundation in engineering students, were third runner-up.
Tyler Liew Khang Yuan took home a second award when he was also adjudged as the Best Debater in the final.
Abdul Najib Azhfar bin Aini and Jeremy Aaron anak Jeludin tied to win the Best Overall Debater Award.
Linus Chin Fang Jin was also won the Best Speaker of English award.
“This year’s debate was open only to novices so as to encourage students who had never debated before, to take to the floor. In the past, the prospect of debating with seasoned debaters was very daunting for newbies,” said Christina Yin, associate head of the School of Language and Foundation who advises the Swinburne Debaters Club which organised the annual tournament.
“Workshops by the club on the previous Saturday and Wednesday helped to prepare the students on how to debate the British Parliamentary or Worlds style,” she said.
“We see a lot of potential among these students although this is the first time any of them have taken part in a debate. A few have already joined the organising committee of the club’s next event, and they are looking forward to debating again, this time with their seniors.”
Seasoned debaters from the club sat as adjudicators for the debate tournament.
