By Nanauzir and Shazni Ong
Having an advantage in debating skills, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has become the role model to IIUM students when he received the IIUM Young Merdeka Award at a special Al-Liqa al shahri (monthly assembly) for the staff on 6 September at the Cultural Activity Centre, IIUM. The award is in recognition of those who have contributed in bringing up the name of the University in the eyes of the world.
Syed Saddiq began to nurture his debating skills since he was in secondary school, eventually winning countless awards along the way. Some of his impressive achievements included being awarded the Overall Best Speaker in the Cambridge Inter-Varsity Debate Championship (UK), the ESL Oxford Inter-Varsity Debate Championship (UK) and the Australasia Debate Championship for two consecutive years.
He was also awarded the best debater in Asia and the Islamic World, winning Overall Best Speaker in the Asian-British Parliamentary Debate (Jakarta) and The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Debate Championship. He made his name into the history books, breaking the Malaysian record, as his team entered the quarter-finals in the Premier Language World University Debating Championship (Germany).
Born as a Johorian, he is currently a third year law student at the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL). He is working in IIUM as a part-time lecturer for advance debating and public speaking as well as a speech writer. His journey as a debater began when he studied at the Royal Military College (RMC).
” I was encouraged by my senior at that time when I was in RMC. When I entered the Centre of Foundation Studies, my interest on debating has further increased, so from there I started to polish up my skills in debating.”
During his leisure time, he enjoyed playing water polo with his friends. After completing his study, he wants to become either a lawyer, a politician or a human right activist.
He placed his confidence in the saying, ” Di mana ada kemahuan, di situ ada jalan“. Passion and hard work are the key in achieving what he has become right now.