Celebrating 40 Years of Rhetoric and Friendship
The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) hosted the 40th annual SEA Forensics and Debate Tournament on their Ampang Campus from February 8 – 10, 2018. The tournament is the longest consecutive event hosted by ISKL and was attended by the honorable YB Dato’ P. Kamalanathan Panchanathan, Deputy Minister of Education (MOE) I. This year the event grew to 14 participating schools and showcased the talent of nearly 200 students from Doha, to Hong Kong, and from public and private schools across Malaysia.
Students competed in seven areas, showcasing their understanding of current events, critical reasoning, and effective communications. Notable results included the Anne Russell Award for best individual performance going to Lindsey Luo of Hong Kong International School, the Debate Speaker Award being picked up by Kirubaharan A/L Muttusamy of Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, and the Muri Awards for Best Performance by a School recognizing Hong Kong International School, Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, and SMK Convent Bukit Nanas. The coveted Rafidah Award for Outstanding Participation by a Malaysian School was awarded to SMK Assunta.
Over the years ISKL has brought together Malaysian government schools, Malaysian private schools and International schools from many countries, providing an opportunity for all participants to demonstrate their capabilities and learn from each other. Describing the significance of this event from the perspective of the MOE, Dato’ P. Kamalanathan stated that
“The joining together of young people from diverse backgrounds, different families, cultures, and schools is perhaps the real success of this tournament. In many ways, it reflects that which we try to achieve in Malaysia – a place where people from diverse cultures live and work together in peace and harmony.”
This year’s event was also unique in that it was the last year to be held in the current location as participants will compete in 2019 at ISKL’s new purpose-built Ampang Campus. The annual SEA Forensics and Debate Tournament is intended to facilitate the collaborative development of skills and characteristics that will help students lead in an increasingly complex world.
