A New Start - 1st National Inter High School British Parliamentary Debate Challenge 2010

Don Siron Pereira, 2nd Year, University of London LL.B (Hons) External

President, KDU Debate Association

The idea of British Parliamentary to secondary school kids in Malaysia is unheard of to the majority. Introducing it as the KDU Debate Association (KDUDA)’s format for our annual debate tournament was a risk.

Nonetheless, it saw 80 teams from all over peninsular Malaysia battling to become the champion. 

The organizing committee from KDU College knew it was going to be a mammoth of a task but with Miss Hannah Ramsamy as the club advisor and the strength of the KDU Debate Association, we dared to dream.

After 5 preliminary rounds, 24 teams broke into the double-quarters. 

Methodist Boys School, SMK Sri Permata, Sekolah Sri Puteri and SMK St. George emerged as the finalists for the tournament. The motion tabled was “THBT Students Who Are Gang Members Should Be Sent to Henry Gurney Even If No Crime Has Been Committed”.

Finals at KDU College's DJ Campus Auditorium

Methodist Boys School emerged champions on a 5-4 split against SMK Sri Permata. The best speaker of the finals was Ameera Moore from Sekolah Sri Puteri. Topping the speaker tabs was Mr Vigneswaran A/L Duranagh from SMK St. George, Taiping.

The champion team, Methodist Boys School, took home the grand prize of RM2,000 cash as well as full scholarships for any Pre-University programmes at KDU. 

Before the break was announce on Sunday morning, a quick survey was done to see which format was preferred. It was a majority in favour of British Parliamentary. Perhaps it was the 3 days of strenuous debating that influenced the decision or maybe they honestly felt it was the preferred choice.

Either ways, the organizing committee, the adjudication core, all adjudicators and participants created history by being part of the 1st National Inter High School British Parliamentary Debate Challenge and by being a catalyst of change.

Full tabs can be found at here.