Language and Cultural Division of International Relations Student Association (KOMAHI) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) conducted a National Debate Competition (KONBAWA) on Friday-Saturday (4-5/5). The competition was organized under the theme of language as a medium to enhance intercultural understanding.

Chief of the KONBAWA Arief Yudhanto stated that the committee collaborated with Jogja Debate Forum (JDF) that the members acted as debate adjudicators. He informed that 13 teams from 11 universities competed at the two-day competition. They were Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), Universitas Padjajaran (UNPAD), Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), Universitas Brawijaya (UB) Malang, Universitas Atmajaya Yogyakarta (UAJY), UIN-Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Universitas Gajah Mada (UGM), Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Universitas Syiah Kuala Aceh (UNSYIAH), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), and Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY).

Uniquely, the debate team names should use their local language as Mejuajuah by UMSU, Kayungyung by UNPAD, Bahasa Makian Dalam by UNJ, Labuan Bajo by UB, Wae Rana by UAJY, Dela oenale by UIN Syarif Hiddayatullah Jakarta , Sansekerta by UGM, Basemah and Sae Pisan by IPB, Aceh by UNSYIAH, Banggai by UNY, Enggano and Kaure by UMY.

Arief also explained that the competition employed an act parliamentary system consisting of a government and an opponent, and the motions were in line with the competition theme. “The competition is a forum to express a notion that we would rather solve problems through a debate or discussion forum than do anarchism. We expect that the competition encourages students to have smart and critical thinking,” he said.

The winner of the competition was UMY, the runner up was UNJ, and the best speaker was Yopi Irianto Panud from a UMY team.