ANTI-CORRUPTION DEBATE CAN FOSTER STUDENT INTEGRITY, RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CORRUPTION - DR MOHAMED IBRAHIM

SERI ISKANDAR, June 11 (Bernama) -- Students can be agents to spread awareness about the dangers of corruption.

Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said it is important for an university to produce male and female graduates with integrity so that they do not experience a culture shock and exposed to negative elements including finding lucrative income in a quick way.

"We must remember that pursuing quick, lucrative income often leads to involvement in criminal activities, which inevitably have legal implications," he said when speaking at the Final Anti-Corruption Debate Competition of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissioner's Institutions of Higher Learning (MACC) 2024 here recently.

He said the debate was a clear proof that the country's students not only passionately fought for the truth but also ensured that integrity and honesty are preserved at all levels of society.

He emphasised that through the competition, he not only witnessed outstanding debating talent, but also witnessed the spirit of honesty and responsibility instilled in each participant.

This debate competition is jointly organised by the MACC, the Malaysian Universities Debating Council (MADUM), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka (DBP) and Anti-Corruption Student Force (AMAR).

It is the fifth time it has been organised since it was first held in 2019, which aims to shape students to always be aware of the current situation and be more courageous in voicing their opinion regarding the issue of corruption and integrity.

A total of 40 teams were involved in this competition involving a total of 160 participants from 27 Public Universities, Private Universities, Teacher Education Institutes (IPG), MARA Education Institutions (IPMa), polytechnics and community colleges.

The competition took place for three days starting June 7 for all levels - preliminary round, quarter final, semi final and final at the UTP Chancellor's Complex, near here.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said that in producing versatile global graduates, UTP always applies the values ​​of integrity to its students.

This debate competition is the best platform, not only to cultivate the value of integrity but also to hone students' critical thinking skills to be not afraid to voice their opinions on important issues such as corruption and integrity.

"We at UTP are proud to host and collaborate this noble cause," he said.

The team from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) was crowned the champion of this debate competition, defeating the team from Universiti Malaya.

The champion team acted as the opposition through a motion entitled "This House Opposes the Involvement of Relatives or Cronies of State Assembly Members, Members of Parliament and Members of the Administration in the Procurement of Tenders and Projects From the Government".

The UKM team represented by Muhammad Iman Azhar, Muhammad Badrul Naim Besri, Hafiz Hafizi Norependi and Nur Kasih Aerysa Zakaria took home a cash prize of RM14,000, a challenge trophy, an accompanying trophy, a certificate and a book sponsored by the DBP.

UM as the runner-up took home RM6,000 in cash, an accompanying trophy, a certificate and a DBP-sponsored book.

The best debater award went to UKM’s Hafiz Hafizi who took home RM1,500 cash.

-- BERNAMA