TAR UMT Penang Branch students Lye Zhang Cheng and Lai Chun Yee delivered an outstanding performance at the INTI International College Penang Inter-Varsity Public Speaking Competition, securing the Champion and First Runner-Up titles, respectively.
Held on 26 June 2026 at INTI's Multi Purpose Court, the competition brought together eight participants under the theme "Speaking The Future: Voices of Tomorrow", challenging speakers to present impactful ideas on the future through the art of public speaking.
Zhang Cheng, a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Honours) in Electrical and Electronics student from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and an alumnus of Han Chiang High School, impressed the judges with his thought-provoking speech on humanity's role in the age of artificial intelligence to claim the Champion title.
Meanwhile, Chun Yee, a Diploma in Broadcast Communication student from the Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries and a former student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Berapit, delivered a compelling speech on overcoming passivity in content creation, earning him the First Runner-Up title and completing a remarkable double victory for TAR UMT.
Behind their winning performances were deeply personal motivations and rigorous intellectual preparation. Drawing from his background as an engineering student, Zhang Cheng developed his speech topic after observing how rapidly generative AI tools were infiltrating daily life, aiming to balance objectivity and facts with strong audience engagement.
"Human ingenuity made AI possible in the first place. By using these tools wisely while recognising their limitations, we can continue to evolve without losing what makes us human," said Zhang Cheng.
For Chun Yee, the inspiration for his speech hit close to home through his studies in media and broadcast communication. Noticing how Generative AI was influencing creative content, he felt compelled to address the risk of audiences becoming passive consumers, with the risk of losing their inherent drive to create.
(From right) Zhang Cheng and Chun Yee with their lecturer Mr Syahmi Bin Zainal Azhar
