PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia March 6 (NNN-Bernama) — Najib Tun Razak said the government organising the Prime Minister’s Trophy International Bahasa Malaysia Debate is to showcase Bahasa Malaysia as a language of culture and civilisation to the world community.

The Prime Minister said the effort was one form of globalising a noble culture and civilisation as Malaysia wanted to ensure the phenomena of globalisation need not be one directional, from the west to the east, but could also be the other way round.

“The efforts and success in organising such a debate is very meaningful and shows the ability of the government to join the globalisation wave.

“Our participation in this globalisation wave does not mean we should be engulfed by all forms of foreign influences whether in thinking, ideology, culture or technology.

“The question is how we can be active and positive players in the globalisation process,” he said when officiating the finals of the debate competition at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here Friday night.

A total of 56 participants from 51 countries competed in the debate which entered its fourth edition this year.

It had started off as the Deputy Prime Minister’s Trophy and after three years, was elevated to the Prime Minister’s Trophy.

Najib said he was proud to note that it was not only a debate competition in Bahasa Malaysia at the international level but all aspects of it were handled in the language itself.

He was also happy to note that participation had increased two-fold to more than 50 countries since its inception in 2007 when only 23 countries took part.

As such, he said he hoped the competition would chalk even greater successes in future.

Malaysia’s Mohd Syazwan Shuhaimi was named the winner in the Nusantara category while China’s Zhang Song emerged tops in the international category.

The two winners took home a cash prize of US$5,000 (RM17,000)and a challenge trophy each.–NNN-BERNAMA

Cambodia’s Chai Lany Sles was the runner-up in the Nusantara category while third place was won by Leonora Lydia Gebby Wentuk of Indonesia.

The runner-up in the international category was Natalya Budanova of Russia while Josee Hunnekes of Germany took third place.

The runners-up and third place winners took home US$3,000 (RM10,000)and US$2,000 (RM6,700) respectively. Eight participants qualified for the finals.

– NNN-BERNAMA

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