Youth Forum competition nurtures future leaders through public speaking

KUCHING: The Youth Forum competition serves as a platform to produce great leaders in Sarawak by training students in public speaking and giving them high exposure, according to Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.

He stressed that, in addition to having a high level of knowledge, mastery of public speaking is an essential criterion for producing future leaders.

“It’s not just about mastering public speaking; this competition also helps produce students who have sharp thinking and broad and deep knowledge about current issues,” he said at the programme here today.

Earlier, Sarawak Education Department director Datu Dr Azhar Ahmad, in his welcome speech, stated that organising such competitions can produce students with high confidence and skills, enabling them to argue and express thoughts critically, creatively, and innovatively.

“The ability to argue critically and spontaneously is an important characteristic of authoritative leaders, while critical thinking skills outside the academic context can produce a young generation who can see the interests of the nation in the future.

“The organisation of the Youth Forum competition also encourages the use of Standard Malay among school students, eventually leading to good and effective standard language usage.

“Success in mastering a good language will inevitably produce a highly knowledgeable and competitive society.”

The 2024 Sarawak Level Youth Forum Youth Cup was held here yesterday and attended by Sarawak governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.

At the competition, Wan Junaidi and his wife also presented prizes to the participants.

SMK Baru Bintulu emerged as the champion. They brought home the trophy, cash amounting to RM2,500, a book published by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), and a certificate. They will represent Sarawak at the national competition to be held in Kuala Lumpur on July 9 and 10.

The 2nd runner-up was SMKA Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab (SHOAW), Kuching, followed by SMK Riam, Miri, in third place.

SMK Baru Bintulu student Ronald Rio Suliman was crowned the Best Forum Member, while the Best Chairman prize was won by Dayang Nurainun Nasuha Awang Mohd Najib from SMKA SHOAW.

Also present were Sarawak Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Rosey Yunus; and DBP deputy director-general (policy) Md Johari Hasan.