SMK Marudi retains Miri debate title for Chief Minister’s Cup

0

Ting (back row centre), Mitchelle (squatting third left) with the other debaters, school principals, teachers and RTM officers.

MIRI: Record nine-time state champion SMK Marudi exacted sweet revenge for their defeat to SMK Long Lama last year when they won the Zone I (Miri) debate championship for the Chief Minister’s Cup 2018 recently.

SMK Marudi will bid to wrest back the title it last won in 2016. The school was state champion in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

They will represent Miri in the inter-zone championship to be held from September 22 to 23, at the Radio Television Malaysia, RTM Miri.

At the Zone I (Miri) final yesterday, SMK Marudi who was the proposer for the title “Pengiklanan Menyedarkan Masyarakat Hak Hak Pengguna” (Advertising creates community awareness on consumerism rights) emerged victorious over SMK Long Lama to win RM1,500 cash prize, trophy and certificate.

Mitchelle Birai from SMK Marudi took the best debater award to win RM500 cash, a trophy and certificate. SMK Long Lama received RM1,000 cash, a trophy and certificate.

Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting officiated at the championship and gave away prizes to the winners of the competition, organised by RTM in collaboration with the Education Department, Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka Sarawak, Resident and District Offices Miri.

“The win is very timely with the school being awarded TS25 3.0 school transformation status this year. This is a collective win and efforts from all concerned in the school,” said SMK Marudi principal Maria Jau after the event.

Teacher-in-charge of the school debating club Abang Median Abang Said was happy that their efforts paid off adding that “our students responded to the needs to revamp their strategies including tempo.”

A total of 12 schools in Miri Division competed in Zone I of the championship aimed to scout for debating talents and encourage wider use of the national language.

Earlier in his speech, Ting commended RTM and co-organisers for continuing with the championship and was optimistic it could achieve its objective of encouraging wider usage of the national language.

“Competition like this is vital to encourage wider usage and appreciation of the national language as Bahasa Melayu is our national identity.

“It is equally important for our students to master English which is a global language in science, technology and mathematics. Unless you have good command of English, you will find it burdensome to learn and be knowledgeable in these fields,” said Ting.