UMPSA Takes Third Place in the 2023 Pahang Chief Minister's Parliamentary Malay Debate Cup

KUANTAN, 7 September 2023 - The 2023 Pahang Chief Minister's Parliamentary Malay Debate Cup reached its pinnacle with the announcement of winners held at the Grand Darul Makmur Hotel in Kuantan recently.

The intense competition featured 24 secondary schools and public higher education institutions (IPTAs) from around Pahang, competing in debating current issues related to education, graduate employability, youth empowerment, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

This prestigious competition was the result of joint efforts by the Pahang State Education Department (JPNP) and the Pahang Youth Council.

It was organized to provide an opportunity for students to express their opinions on current issues, develop their language skills, and promote critical thinking.

The team from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), consisting of four students, namely Ibrahim Ismail Ahmad, Mohamad Faris Izuan Shah Zulkefli, Muhammad Irfan Danial Mohd Rodzi, and Muhammad Yuzairi Yahadi, demonstrated their commitment to building language skills and critical thinking among students across Pahang.

The UMPSA team competed in three initial rounds to qualify for the quarter-finals, and they performed brilliantly, securing UMPSA's place in the next stage.

In the semi-finals, UMPSA faced off against the team from the Foundation Centre, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Gambang. Both teams displayed impressive debating skills.

In the final round, UMPSA successfully secured third place in the competition, contributing significantly to the field of debating in Pahang.

Furthermore, two debaters from the UMPSA team, Mohamad Faris Izuan Shah Zulkefli, and Ibrahim Ismail Ahmad, were awarded sixth and ninth place, respectively, as the best debaters in the youth category in Pahang.

The Closing Ceremony was officiated by the Pahang State Executive Councillor for Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Biotechnology, and Education, the Honorable Dato’ Sri Ir. Haji Mohd. Soffi Tan Sri Abd. Razak, at the Grand Darul Makmur Hotel in Kuantan.

According to one of the participants, Muhammad Yuzairi Yahadi, he hopes that this competition can serve as a platform for young people and youth to speak out courageously.

"I also hope that this competition can be organized every year," he added.

The success of the UMPSA team in this competition not only reflects the quality of education at UMPSA but also showcases a competitive spirit among students from higher education institutions and creates a platform for intellectual development and idea sharing among the younger generation in Pahang.

Disediakan oleh: Amy Zulaikha Mohd Ali, Centre for Modern Languages

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMP Career Centre (UMPCC)