Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge 2013 at KDU University College

Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge 2013

Last Saturday, I was in KDU University College for Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge. Watching these students debate and in the college environment make me feel like those days in Uni… years back. 

KDU University College, Damansara Jaya, Selangor

KDU University Collage in collaboration with the KDU Debate Association hosted this annual Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge to pique high school students’ interest debating, enhance their communication, and adjudication skills. 

At the debate hall while waiting for the judges to arrive

Last year, a total of 63 teams from all over Malaysia participated in the Challege. The winner was SMK Damansara Utama defeated Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak based on the motion “This House Believes That we should, stop wasting time on space exploration and just concentrate on maximizing our time on earth instead".

This year the two grand final debate teams are Tunku Kurshiah College as government verses SMK Asunta as Opposition. It was a very challenging and intense debate indeed. 

When I heard and saw the motion was selected, I knew that it’s going to be real challenging motion and really curious what are the statements and points that the government and opposition team going to present. 

It was a challenge for Tunku Kurshiah College team because all the three debaters are Islam, however the three debaters manage the pull through and presented their reasons well, clear and structured way. Even though they are Islam but they do respect other religion. Their points are religion is for the people and by the people.  Modernization will not affect the decisions of the Pope because everything refers back to the Bible. Christianity is unity.  

Whereby, SMK Asunta girls as the Opposition team also did their best in stating their reasons why the Cardinals can only elect the Pope not the people. I find that some of their reasons were repeated. The opposition team think that the Cardinals has the in depth knowledge and real Christianity values therefore the Cardinals only has the right and know who to elect as Pope. The Pope has to stay strong and uphold the values of religion. 

Prof Dr. Khong Yoon Long, Vice Chancellor of KDU University College 

presenting the Trophy and Prize to Tunku Kurshiah College students, 

the Champion of Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge 2013

The Champion for Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge 2013 is Tunku Kurshiah College and the runner up is SMK Asunta. The champion will receive RM3,000 and a challenge trophy while the runner-up will receive RM2,000 and the best speaker RM500. Congrats to all the debaters. It was a challenging motion and all the debaters did well. 

Tunku Kurshiah College, the Champion and SMK Asunta, 

runner up of Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge 2013 

Overall it was an eye opener for me, after the debate I also learned and more understanding about Christianity, the Cardinals rules and etc. Actually students should take more initiative to participate in debate. This can help to improve their english sharpen their public speaking and communication skills at the same time elevate their confidence level.

Besides hosting this Dato’ CQ Teo Debate Challenge, KDU University College also participated and hosted international events such as World Scholar’s Cup Regional Rounds in Malaysia.