Three Tournaments, One Spirit: IIUM Pagoh Debaters Blaze Through August Arenas

By, Muhammad Hanif Bin Naim & Muhammad Hafiz Zhafri Bin Abd Kamal

Pagoh, 17th August 2025: The first half of August was nothing short of electrifying for IIUM Pagoh’s debaters. In the span of just two weeks, they stood tall in three prestigious national tournaments: Debat Malaya 2025, Debat Rakan Muda UPSI 2025, and the SUHAKAM Human Rights Debate Championship 2025. Each platform tested not only their skills but also their endurance, as they faced top-tier universities in intense rounds of argument, rebuttal, and persuasion. From earning best speaker titles to breaking into knockout rounds, the results affirmed IIUM Pagoh’s rising presence in Malaysia’s debating arena.

Debat Malaya 2025: Two IIUM Kuantan Teams Represent KDBM (1–3 August 2025)

The month of August began with Debat Malaya 2025, a prestigious tournament organised by Universiti Malaya in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources (Department of Trade Union Affairs). For this competition, KDBM Pagoh partnered with KDBM Kuantan to send two strong teams under the IIUM Kuantan campus. IIUM Kuantan A performed commendably, ranking 9th out of 22 teams with three victories in the preliminary rounds. The team members were: Sr. Nur Irdina binti Hamka, who shone as Best Speaker in Round 3 against UPTM B. Not to forget, Sr. Farah Ainin Sofiya binti Azizan, who earned Best Speaker in Round 5 against UPM A. Plus, Br. Mohamad Irfan bin Mohamad Faizul, who secured Best Speaker in Round 4 against UMK B. However, the team will not be a good team without the help from Br. Mohamad Yazid bin Ahmad, as he was the fourth debater for the team.

In the meantime, IIUM Kuantan B ranked 13th out of 22 teams, winning two preliminary rounds. The line-up included: Br. Muhammad Danish Syabil bin Muhamad, who impressed with Best Speaker awards in Round 1 against IIUM Gombak and later against UPM in round 4. The second debater for the team was Br. Nik Ahmad Afiq Isra bin Nik Muhamad Norisam and Muhammad Musyrif bin Mahadi played as the prime minister for the team. Lastly, the amazing one is our last year ACOM students, Br. Muhammad Hafiz Zhafri bin Abd Kamal, who earned Best Speaker in both Round 2 and the final preliminary round against UPTM. The tournament proved to be an excellent platform for Pagoh and Kuantan debaters to showcase their talent at a national stage.

Debat Rakan Muda UPSI 2025: Quarterfinal Achievements (9–11 August 2025)

From 9 to 11 August, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) hosted the Debat Rakan Muda 2025, where KDBM IIUM Pagoh sent a team that displayed remarkable consistency. KDBM IIUM Pagoh Team fought bravely to the quarterfinals, where they fell to UPM in a spirited debate, yet the best speaker was Sr. Farah Ainin Sofiya. They finished 4th out of 14 teams, with three preliminary victories. Individual excellence shone through as; Sr. Farah Ainin Sofiya was named Best Debater in her round and ranked 8th overall Best Speaker. Mohamad Irfan Faizul secured a place in the Top 5 overall Best Speakers of the tournament. Apart from that, KDBM IIUM Kuantan Team also advanced to the quarterfinals, before bowing out to the eventual league champions, Universiti Malaya. They ranked 8th overall. Notably, Br. Dominic Irman Fitri made history by winning Best Speaker in all preliminary rounds, culminating in his placement as the 7th overall Best Speaker. This was an extraordinary comeback after a nine-month break from debating.

Human Rights Debate Championship 2025: A Double Breakthrough (11–13 August 2025)

Back-to-back with UPSI, KDBM IIUM Pagoh returned to the debating stage at the Human Rights Debate Championship 2025, held online from 11 to 13 August. IIUM Pagoh A, consisting of Sr. Nur Irdina Hamka, Sr. Farah Ainin Sofiya, Br. Mohamad Irfan Faizul, and Br. Amirul Ilman, delivered a powerful performance. They ranked 6th out of 28 teams and advanced to the octo-finals. In the same league, IIUM Pagoh B, with Nik Ahmad Afiq Isra, Muhammad Danish Syabil, Arif Iskandar, and Muhammad Zulkarnain, achieved what many called a miracle run. Ranked 16th overall, they too broke into the octo-finals. Although both teams exited at the octo-finals stage, they did so with honour, proving that Pagoh’s debating strength is growing rapidly. The announcement of the Best Debater rankings is still pending, and hopes remain high.

These back-to-back tournaments showcased more than just competitive results which revealed the resilience, teamwork, and intellectual spirit that define IIUM Pagoh’s debaters. With quarterfinal and octo-final appearances, multiple Best Speaker awards, and strong overall rankings, the teams demonstrated that Pagoh is no longer just a participant but a serious contender in national debate circuits. August 2025 will be remembered as a month where IIUM Pagoh’s voices grew louder, clearer, and more influential especially in carrying forward the conviction that in debate, as in life, true victory lies in the courage to speak with wisdom and serve with purpose.***