UT MARA Debating Society

I’ve always frowned upon the debating concept and it’s competitions. I think it’s ridiculous to have a ‘motion’ released a before debating and having to come up display a pseudo-banner to explain your ‘points’. Why? Firstly, you come up with a prepared speech (should belong in a public speaking contest), and the banner, that’s just plain ridiculous. But that’s high school debating for you. This was true during my time back in the 90’s.

Then I went to university, in Perlis(in a land far far away)…in Arau (some isolated village in the middle of nowhere). Yeah, I started my university years in UiTM Arau. On the first day, I made friends with a few people and one of them was an interesting chap with a person by the name of Iqbal Hafiedz. No this person Iqbal, or Hafiedz…and later at one time he was called Hafiedz the Squirrel (ask him why) taught me a lot of things, made me experience the things that was offered by life for example smoking and debating (yes, i succumbed to peer pressure) which I could never get to while I was in boarding school and high school but that’s a different story.

Eventually Hafiedz and I became housemates by the 2nd semester (after being ‘kicked’ out by university for college placement for some reason or another). We became close friends by then. I knew he was debating at time, still fresh but the amount of recruits on the club was 3, just right number of people to qualify for a team. So, being in a place such as UITM Arau at that time it was difficult to search recruits since there was no official club or support by the university except for the Vice-Chancellors Cup. They needed more people to come in and join the cause. The requirement was to speak fluent English. Wow.

Now, being the sceptical and hard -headed person that I am, I was really reluctant to join Hafiedz’s invitation. I didn’t like debates, after my first and last experience in high school and I had no intention of joining debates at the university level. Ask me join Karate or TaeKwonDo I would instantly join but debates, well, not to keen to do so. So during one night, when the moon was full and shining brightly, Hafiedz got me to sit down in his and have a chat together. He asked me to join the debating team. I had no intention to succumb to his ‘charm’ in convincing people so all I said was no, no, and no. This session started at midnight and ended at dawn (six hours). What was the conclusion of this session? All he got me to do to spectate the next debate session they were going to have.

So I came to the debate session in order to fullfill a promise made to a friend, only to know that I wasn’t going as a spectator but as a participant. That was a real shocker. For once during that debate, I actually enjoyed it even though I made a complete fool of myself. After that, debate became my life. Oh, did I even mention what the motivation given by Hafiedz to me? He said there would be ‘hot girls’..English speaking..in the world of debating. Being in twenties that really made it more…umm..welcoming point. Who could blame me? I guess that’s the real reason i join debates really. When you are stuck in far away desolate place like Arau there’s not much to look out for. Then that reason changed to lift the image of UITM debating where at time were considered ‘underdogs ‘ to a ‘force to be reckoned with’ in the Malaysian Debating league. There is bond between me and debating, like lovers. That was my task during my time and my reason. Breaking rounds was all too common for me but winning was another thing.

So, debaters, why don’t ask yourself..what made you join the debating community initially? Is it just for fun, girls or guys, or there is some other holy reason that you want to become a true debater who will win championships? It’s an interesting point to ponder. Why not share?

Edzuan, is an alumni and former debater of UT MARA. He had participated in various tournaments both local & international scene and he believes that debating had changed his life tremendously.