Introduction

Rational Logo

The Environmental Debate Logo was first introduced at the 21st Environmental Debate Competition in 2011. The selection of this logo was made through the Environmental Debate Logo Creation Competition. This logo will be used for the next competition.

Overall, this logo is designed by including important elements, namely the words ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATE BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION with appropriate colors and pictures of hibiscus as a symbol of the environment.

The word DEBATE – white color on the letter D means cleanliness and dignity to describe the debater’s personality as a student of a Higher Education Institution who has a clean soul and noble morals. The color black carries the meaning of strength and confidence in debating.

The word ENVIRONMENT is green – The color green symbolizes fertility, growth and harmony that is commonly associated with life and the environment. Green is the corporate color of the Department of Environment as the organizer of this competition.

Red flower – Bunga Raya is the National Flower of Malaysia and in the context of this logo it is a symbol of courage, strength and aggressive will in arguing and debating.

The Environmental Debate Competition Between Higher Education Institutions was first held in 1986. However, it became an annual event starting in 1991 after the Malaysian government declared October 21 each year as Malaysian Environment Week (MEW).

It is an annual program organized by the Department of Environment together with the Universiti Malaysia Debate Council (MADUM) since the early 90s. The main organizer of this debate competition is the Department of Environment in collaboration with MADUM, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and the Ministry of Higher Education. To facilitate the management and organization of the competition, one of the participating Higher Education Institutions will be selected in turn to be offered to host the debate competition each year.

The Environmental Debate Competition Between Higher Education Institutions is an annual activity that is expected to increase knowledge and awareness among students on various environmental issues and problems. It can also form a culture of thinking and speaking in public among students.

Objective

1. To increase the knowledge of students who are also future leaders on environmental issues/policies at the national and international levels.
2. Expand the network of cooperation between higher education institutions in Malaysia, whether public or private to enable the process of knowledge sharing. Encourage students to be more open -minded, critical and literate in general knowledge touching aspects of the environment and the preservation and conservation of natural resources
3. Train students as future leaders to think and produce ideas effectively and thoughtfully
4. As a way to improve speech and debate skills and talents among students.

Age of Debate Programs Between Higher Education Institutions

The Department of Environment has organized the Environmental Debate Competition Between Higher Education Institutions (IPT) for the first time in 1986. The Debate Competition which involves cooperation between the Department of Environment, Ministry of Higher Education, Universiti Malaysia Debate Council and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka was organized annual beginning in 1991.

Now his age has reached 27 years this year. It is not a short period of time, in fact many of the debaters who debated this year were still not born when the debate competition was organized for the first time in 1986. This Debate Competition is one of the oldest debate competition records in Malaysia. The Environmental Debate has become a legacy of debate among the longest-lasting Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia and even maintains its prestige as the championship that is the dream of all university debaters.

A brief history of the Environmental Debate Competition Between Higher Education Institutions where participation which initially only involved participants from Public IPTs has also been opened to Private IPTs since 2003. Like other debate competitions in Malaysia, this Environmental Debate Competition also saw some format changes. competition in line with the increase in participants and to give a better impact to achieve the objectives of its organization.

For example, by using the Parliamentary Debate method, debaters will be trained to argue and present all the proposed information with more focus in addition to testing understanding and mastery of issues through interjections and responses to interjections during the debate.

Brief Information of the 27th Inter-IPT Environmental Debate Competition in 2021

In this 27th edition of the competition, with the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, the competition was held in a new norm, namely virtually (online) in collaboration with the new Strategic Partner, the Malaysian Institute of Debate and Public Speaking (MIDP).

The 27th Environmental Debate Competition between Higher Education Institutions (IPT) was participated by 28 teams consisting of 17 Public IPTs, 4 Teacher Education Institutions (IPG), 1 polytechnic and 6 Private IPTs. The 27th Inter-IPT Environmental Debate Competition was held at the Malaysian Department of Environment in Precinct 4, W.P. Putrajaya starts from 14 to 21 August 2021 in conjunction with the National Environment Day 2021 Celebration.

THE 29TH ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATE COMPETITION AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, 2023

Department of Environmental (DOE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), the Malaysian Universities Debate Council (MADUM), the Institute of Language and Literature (DBP), and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), organized the 29th Annual Environmental Debate Competition among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The competition adopted a hybrid format, with the preliminary rounds conducted virtually and the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals held in person at the host institution. This approach has been in place since 2022 as a new initiative. The competition took place from August 19th to 27th, 2023, in conjunction with Malaysia’s National Environmental Day celebration.

The objective of the Environmental Debate Competition (EDC) was to enhance the knowledge of students, who are future leaders that will play a significant role in shaping the nation’s policies and issues related to environmental matters, both at the national and international levels.

The HEI Environmental Debate has been an annual program since 1991, organized by JAS in collaboration with KPT, MADUM, and DBP. The debate competition includes both Parliamentary-style debates and open debates. The selection of teams playing as the government or opposition is determined using a ‘bracket power match’ system in the preliminary rounds. Team rankings are based on wins/losses, judges’ scores, victory margins, and overall scores.

The virtual preliminary rounds consisted of five (5) rounds. The top eight (8) teams proceeded to the quarter-finals, and the four (4) winning teams advanced to the semi-finals, with the top two (2) teams competing in the finals. The list of HEI teams participating in the competition is as provided in Table 1.

Table 1: List of Higher Education Institutions Teams Participated in the Competition

The 29th Annual Environmental Debate Competition among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 2023 was held at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) from August 25th to 27th, 2023, in conjunction with the celebration of National Environmental Day (HASN) 2023. Besides the debates, various environmental awareness programs were organized to encourage students and the public to cherish the environment. These included sustainable exhibitions and the Environmental Friend Circle (Rakan Alam Sekitar or RAS) programs held around the UTHM campus in Batu Pahat.

The final round of the competition took place on 27th August 2023, at the Sultan Ibrahim Hall of UTHM, between teams from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The opening ceremony and prize presentation were presided over by the Director-General of Environmental Affairs, Mr. Dato’ Wan Abdul Latiff bin Wan Jaffar, who delivered the opening speech on behalf of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, accompanied by Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Ruzairi bin Abdul Rahim, the Vice-Chancellor of UTHM, and witnessed by Professor Sr. Ts. Dr. Hj. Lokman Hakim bin Hj. Ismail, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni) of UTHM, who also serves as the Chairman of the Malaysian Universities Debate Council (MADUM).

The champions of the Environmental Debate Competition among HEIs received a cash prize of RM8,000.00 along with participation certificates, accompanying trophies, and the Minister of NRECC Round Trophy. Meanwhile, the runners-up received a cash prize of RM5,000.00, participation certificates, and accompanying trophies. The two semi-finalist teams received a cash prize of RM1,500.00, plaques, and participation certificates. The Best Debater of the final round received a cash prize of RM1,500.00, a plaque, and a participation certificate. Additionally, the Best Debater of the league received a cash prize of RM1,000.00, a plaque, and a participation certificate. The list of winners is as provided in Table 2.

Table 2: List of Winners for the 29th Annual Environmental Debate Competition among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) 2023