THE tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
The Petaling Perdana (B) debate team members were on the edge of their seats, holding each other’s hands tightly.
When the results of the Madani Generation Debate were announced, they erupted in jubilation and hugged.
They won the 2026 Selangor State Assembly Speaker’s Cup (Piala Tuan Speaker).
On top of that, two team members, Muhammad Hafidz Ikram Mohd Nor Azman from SAM Tengku Ampuan Jemaah (SAMTAJ ) and Chiah Wei Yuan from SMK Subang Utama, won individual awards too.
Muhammad Hafidz Ikram was named the finale’s Best Debater while Wei Yuan received the Selangor Assembly Speaker’s Special Award by virtue of being the overall Best Debater.
Held at Wisma Dewan Negeri Selangor (WDNS), the competition was a collaboration between the Selangor State Assembly Speaker’s Office and the Selangor Education Department (JPN Selangor).
The event was organised by SAMTAJ assisted by SMK Ungku Aziz, SMKA Tun Rahah, SAM Batu 38 and SAM Parit Baru.
The Petaling Perdana B team argued in favour of the motion that “returning to your hometown remains the best Cuti-Cuti Malaysia experience” while team Hulu Langat (B), who narrowly lost, spoke against it.
Seven judges on the panel voted for the motion, while two were against.
Ann Tan, Wei Yuan’s mother, was overjoyed at her son’s success.
“He’s had a public speaking trainer since Standard 4,” said Tan of her son who has always had a keen interest in public speaking.
Wei Yuan said his ambition was to become a politician and one of his idols was Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
On whether he had ever used his debating skills on his parents, the teen quickly quipped that his parents were always right.
Khairunnisa Ab Halim, the mother of winning team member Adra Zahara Ahmad Fahmi from SAMTAJ, also beamed with pride at her daughter’s achievement.
Adra Zahara, whose ambition is to be a psychiatrist, described her journey into the field of debate as “organic”.
“I was really stepping out of my comfort zone when my teachers told me to join the debate team,” she said.
Khairunnisa said, “I hope that for all her future undertakings, she will continue to choose to step out of her comfort zone so that she can develop to her full potential.”
Revealing how intense the debate was, team Kuala Langat (A) members, Arissa Damia Badrul Hisham and Ulfah Solehah Ahmad Munsif from SAMT Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, said everyone had just an hour to prepare for each motion.
“We were quarantined before the debate and were not allowed to get help from outsiders.
“Apart from being well-read and prepared with research notes, we must also be good at defining a topic and having an open mind,” the debaters said.
The debate competition spanned three days with 22 teams taking part.
The initial rounds took place online via Zoom, the semi-final was held at JPN Selangor’s Education Technology Resource Sector (SSTP) in Shah Alam, while the finale was at WDNS.
Selangor Speaker Lau Weng San, who attended the closing ceremony as the guest of honour, said the choice of venue was aimed at nurturing a deeper appreciation of the democratic process.
“We want to nurture a generation that is not only articulate, but also courageous in upholding the truth with civility.
“Seeing these young students debating, I am confident that we are preparing a new generation of future leaders who will be able to represent the people’s voice with great maturity,” he said.
While awaiting the final results, participants took part in a leadership forum featuring state assembly members from Lembah Jaya, Kota Damansara and Hulu Bernam.
Among other topics, participants asked how leaders stay true to their cause despite intense opposition and what the minimum education requirement is to become an assemblyman.
They were also invited inside the state assembly chamber for a group photo.
Due to his background as a hip-hop artiste, Lembah Jaya assemblyman Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, also known as Altimet, garnered a lot of attention from the teen participants.
The father of three children aged 10, 17 and 20, said the younger generation stood to benefit from taking part in debate competitions.
“One, they learn the art of public speaking; second, they can think on their feet; and finally, they learn soft skills which is important in our daily lives,” he said.
