Students put up strong showing in faculty debate competition

Miri – 23 November 2015 – Students of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) put up a strong showing, with a good deal of exciting verbal sparring, in the faculty’s debate competition themed ‘Innovation in Science and Engineering’ recently.

The competition, organised by the faculty’s Foundation in Engineering and Science Department, was aimed at encouraging critical and creative thinking among students.

All the participants were trained by lecturer and debating enthusiast Mellvyn Mitchell Nathan, and in the true spirit of debating, were encouraged to examine every aspect of important and controversial issues in an atmosphere of reasoned argument and respectful discourse.

The debating style used was the Asian Parliamentary style and the motion for the final round of competition was ‘This House would start drilling the Arctic and Antarctic for oil’.

The adjudicators were the Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science Professor Michael Cloke, Head of the Department of Language Studies and Humanities Serina Ann Doss and Curtin Sarawak Research Institute Fellow Dr. Amandeep S. Sidhu.

Forming the Government team was Gibson Tan Yao Sheng, Alvin F Mpinyuri and Dip Saha, while the Opposition team comprised Praween Sarawanan, Mohamed Mohamoud Hawadleh and Kevin Kesulai anak Bansa.

The Opposition team emerged the winner, walking away with a hamper worth RM200. In the individual category, Tan came in first prize, winning a RM800 cash prize, followed by Praween and Mohamed Mohamoud who received RM500 and RM300 respectively.

All the participants and winners were congratulated by Professor Cloke and Head of the Department of Foundation in Engineering and Science Foad Motalebi, who said it was a great learning opportunity for the students.

Foad also thanked committee members Lai Zhenyue, Suresh Reuben Balakrishnan, Natallee Faith Kwan, Nong Nurnie Mohd. Nistah and Jason Chia for organising the competition.

A speaker in action.

The winners Praween, Tan (left and 2nd left) and Mohamed Mohamoud (right) posing with Professor Cloke (middle) and Foad.

The organising committee and adjudicators posing with the participants.