KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — Debates not only provide an effective platform in moulding the country’s civilisation, they can also play a role in contributing to the realisation of the 1 Malaysia concept propagated by the government currently.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said debates could unite the people into reaching greater heights in terms of national development. Debating skills had been proven to be capable of creating and transforming the civilisation of a particular race because history had shown that debates had formed the most important basis in forming the Greek, Roman and Muslim civilisations, he said in his speech at the closing of the final rounds of the ‘a la parliamentary’ debate on independence between Malaysian universities at the Auditorium Perdana in Angkasapuri, here today.
The text of his speech was read by his deputy, Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum. “In fact, history had also shown that emotional debates which are not substantiated with facts can act as a sharp sword in dividing a particular community,” Rais said.
On the ‘a la parliamentary’ debate on independence organised by the National Archives, he said the programme, which was entering its 10th year, was no longer a platform merely to train the undergraduates in sharpening their oratory skills and boosting their self-confidence, but also contributed in realising the objectives of the 1Malaysia concept.
“The programme exposed the participants to proper debating techniques besides helping them to understand the ethics and actual procedures in debating in Parliament.
“This is important in preparing them to become knowledgeable and disciplined elected representatives in future,” he said.
Rais said the programme also demonstrated that the government greatly appreciated the ideas and views of the undergraduates besides giving the government an opportunity to look at the meaning of independence from the perspective of the younger generation.
At the competition this year, the team from Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) retained the title which they won last year, beating the team from Universiti Multimedia Malaysia (MMU). UTP received a cash prize of RM7,000, the challenge trophy and certificate of participation. UTP debater Myer Iyemman Yusof was announced as the best speaker and received a cash prize of RM500. — Bernama
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