UI into final in debate contest

JAKARTA (JP): A convincing analysis that a plan by the Congress to impeach President Joseph Estrada is no bluff led the University of Indonesia (UI) to the final of the ASEAN Varsities Debate in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, at the expense of home favorite the Islamic University of Malaysia.

The UI team coordinator Achmad Nurhoeri told The Jakarta Post the trio of Idauli Hutasoit, Adhy Poetra Al-Hosen and Dyah Yasmina upset the home team who insisted that the ongoing process of impeachment against Estrada would not materialize.

In the final later on Sunday, Idauli and company will meet the University of Philippines, which beat the University of Chulalongkorn of Thailand.

The Indonesians' knowledge of the Philippines domestic politics surprised the crowd packed into the University of Malaysia's auditorium.

"We still can't believe it," team captain Idauli, a computer student, said after the win. "It was a close debate."

Three judges, all of them Malaysians, were split over the UI students' performance.

The Malaysians had been dubbed the favorites at the biennial event after finishing seventh at the World Debating Championship recently.