SMK Zon R1 Wangsa Maju wins MAIWP schools debate competition

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10  -- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Zon R1 Wangsa Maju (SMK Zon R1 Wangsa Maju) emerged champions of the MAIWP Cup Parliamentary-style debate competition after defeating Sekolah Menengah Agama Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan(SMA-MAIWP) in the final round here today. 

Form 1 student Emran Emir Mohd Shahnaz, from the winning team who was also named best speaker in the competition, said he began debating a year ago and honed his talents with the guidance of his teachers and teammates.

“I didn't expect to receive the best speaker award because I felt I was lacking. I want to thank my teammates for this honour,” he said when met after the event here today.

The winning team received a RM5,000 cash prize along with a trophy while the runner-up received RM3,000 and third place RM1,000 respectively, as well as a consolation prize for all teams and RM500 for the best speaker.

For the first time, MAIWP organised a Federal Territory level debate competition involving the participation of secondary schools in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

MAIWP chairman Datuk Seri Syed Hussien Alhabshee said the competition was held with the concept of 'rahmahtan lil alamin' (Islam as a religion of peace) as the theme of the competition.  

"The theme is MAIWP’s way of introducing this idea from a young age and to encourage them to be Rahmah (mercy) ambassadors," he said.

"The competition is open to all students to discuss the theme of Lil Alamin's (mercy to all creations) because this idea is not exclusive to Muslims but for all Malaysians," he said.

The idea of 'rahmatan lil alamin' is a governmental approach towards creating a 'rahmah' state introduced by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa this year.

-- BERNAMA