USM PENANG, 19 October 2021 -- Recently, the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Kelab Debat & Pengucapan Awam (KDPA) students succeeded in making their voices heard when both Arief Ferdaus bin Azmi from the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation (SoLLaT) emerged as the champion (Varsity Category) and Anisha Kaur Johl a/p Pritam Singh from the School of Biological Sciences became the 2nd runner-up (Varsity Category) at the InvestSmart®️ Fest Youth Public Speaking Competition (IFYPSC) 2021.

For their feat, Arief received RM1,500, a trophy from Securities Commission Malaysia and an e-certificate, while Anisha pocketed RM1,000 and an e-certificate.

All 6 participants from the Kelab Debat & Pengucapan Awam (KDPA) USM, namely, Anisha Kaur Johl A/P Pritam Singh, Arief Ferdaus bin Azmi, Christy Wee Xin Yee from the School of Chemical Engineering, Jason Kng Wei Liang from the School of Material & Mineral Resources Engineering, Meenaloshini A/P Sivam from the School of Biological Sciences and Shereen Lim Chia Yee from the School of the Arts have made it through to the semi-finals of IFYPSC 2021.

From more than 100 submissions throughout all 3 categories (Secondary, Varsity and Youth), all the participants from USM's KDPA contingent advanced to the semi-finals, with each category comprising of a maximum of 10 competitors.

According to Senior Lecturer of School of Computer Sciences, who is also the Advisor for Kelab Debat & Pengucapan Awam USM, Dr. Zarul Fitri Zaaba, this success is the result of continued efforts put in by the students who competed and the consistent practices that have been done.

“I am constantly monitoring their progress, especially those involving methods and techniques while speaking and of course, this success belongs to all in bringing the name of Universiti Sains Malaysia to a higher level,” he said.

Moreover, USM's ‘H.E.B.A.T.’ agenda is an essential element that raises the value of the students’ performance in the aspects of "articulate" and "thinking".

“This is our first participation in the InvestSmart®️ Fest Youth Public Speaking Competition (IFYPSC) 2021. What is important here is that the students have a deep understanding in all aspects involving investment and finance in order to ensure good financial planning for the future,” he said.

InvestSmart®️ Fest Youth Public Speaking Competition (IFYPSC) 2021 was organised by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), InvestSmart®️, Financial Education Network and powered by Malaysian Institute for Debate and Public Speaking (MIDP).

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah/Infographic: Ebrahim Abdul Manan