pg 06 - 07 Oratory Competition.pub

Oratory Competition
SIXTH ISSUE
BELTA Matters
December 2007
Brunei Darussalam
1ST BELTA-Department of Information Oratory Competition 2007
In collaboration with the Department of
Information at the Prime Minister’s Office, BELTA
successfully organised the first National Oratory
Competition on 30 May 2007. The thirteen
finalists of confident orators entered the oratory
arena at the Pusat Dakwah Centre prepared and
ready to speak on their given topics. Many styles
of speaking were witnessed showing just how
much public speaking style is dictated by one’s
personality. It was an interesting afternoon of
stimulating speeches.
The winner of the first Department of Information
and BELTA Oratory Competition was Mohd Yusof
Fadli bin Sidek of PDS Secondary School.
The guest of honour was the Minister of
Education, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato
Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato
Setia Haji Mohamed Taib, who had kindly
contributed the Challenge Trophy for the
competition. The YB Pehin Rahman Taib
Champion’s trophy will be the most-coveted
trophy in the many English Language
competitions held nationally. The trophy
undoubtedly added a bit more prestige to the
competition.
There were five judges in the Final Round of the
competition, namely Mr Gavin Cowley, CfBT, as
Chief Judge; then Awg Musa Mohiddin from the
Department of Information; Mr Christopher Ng
from the DPP Office, Attorney General’s
Chambers; Mrs Breda O Hara-Davies from
Maktab Duli Pg Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah and Ms
Jenny Malai Ali from Radio Television Brunei.
The organising of the Oratory Competition started
early in the year with forms sent to all secondary
schools in Brunei Darussalam in February 2007.
In the qualifying round, which was held at
Sekolah Menengah Rimba, there were 31
participants. Each of them gave a three-minute
speech. Since participants were given the
freedom of choosing their own topic, the
qualifying round was certainly interesting in the
sense that the topics were varied and ranged
from the thought-provoking ‘Euthanasia’ and
‘Child Soldiers’ to the philosophical ‘What makes
one happy?’
The three judges in the qualifying round were
Cikgu Sharifah Ainna Tuanku Abdul Rahman of
Pusat Tingkatan Enam Berakas as Chief Judge;
Dr Stephen Bird of Universiti Brunei Darussalam
and Cikgu Dk Zarina Jade Pg Sabri of Maktab
Duli Pg Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah.
BELTA and the Department of Information worked hard to
make the competition a success, holding several meetings
to ensure the smooth running of the events. The
Department of Information headed by the Director Awg Hj
Mahrub bin Hj Murni advised and recommended a number
of issues which made the competition an even grander
affair.
The competition finalists were also given an opportunity to
learn more about public speaking and be better speakers
when they attended a workshop on public speaking
conducted by Mrs Patrea Mourtzakis, a CfBT Project
officer. In the same workshop, officers of the Department
of Information briefed participants on protocol procedures
which the competition finalists found very helpful.
BELTA and the Department of Information wish to thank
the main sponsor of the competition, the British Council, for
their generosity in sponsoring book prizes. The 1st prize
was $500 worth of books for the winner’s school; the 2nd
prize was $400 worth of books; the 3rd prize was $300
worth of books and the 4th prize was $200.
Other than the book prizes, the Department of Information
also awarded medals, trophies and cash prizes to the
winners. We also wish to convey our sincerest gratitude to
MacMillan for dictionaries for every participant in the
qualifying round. Although only 13 participants in the
qualifying round made it through to the finals, all
participants each went home with a copy of the popular and
comprehensive MacMillan dictionary.
The competition was very much a challenging experience
for all involved and every one reaped a lot of positive
learning experience. Not just the participants but BELTA
members who helped organise and run the competition
gained immeasurably from the experience.
On behalf of BELTA, sincerest thanks and appreciation go
to the officers of the Department of Information at the
Prime Minister’s Office who worked closely with BELTA.
We are grateful for your patience, wisdom and
guidance.
Hajah Seri Ainey Haji Shahri and
Tutty Hyrneita Abd Latip
BELTA Coordinators of Oratory Competition
The finalists and their coaches
Ian Chan Zhao Xing
Mr Albert Polita
Maktab Sains PSBS
Ng Shi Yeng
Mrs Santhi Thomas
Chung Ching Middle School
Alyssa Liew Wei Wei
Mrs Zainath Shafeeullah
St Andrew’s School
Yusof Fadli Hj Sidek
Mr Damien Morris Alwines
PDS Secondary School
Han Sau Herng
Muhd Faiz Hj Md Jais
Ms Jamie Chung
Cikgu Hizatul Salwani Razali
Chung Hwa Middle School
SM Muda Hashim
Kuala Belait
Tutong
Ak Md Fadhil Pg Hj Ali
Ms Christine Anne Sullivan
Chung Hwa Middle School
BSB
Nilarustika Roslan
Cikgu Norizyani Romainor
SM Sufri Bolkiah
Tutong
Fidelia Tee Ching Huey
Ms Adrenne Chinn
St George’s School
Nurul Azimah Hj Ishan
Khalil
Ms Martha Maloney
SM PAP Hjh Masna
Hilal Munirah Kamis
Mr Shim Sheau Huei
SM Sayyidina Ali
Kuala Belait
Paul @ Murthi Carballo
Som
Mr Roman Padillo
St Angela’s School
Nur Ezzati Nadhirah Hj Maeidin
Ms Claire Sayner
SM PAP Hjh Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah
Lumut