A minister has stressed the importance of inculcating an awareness of integrity among university students because without integrity, the character and personality of an individual will deteriorate.

Students instilled with a strong sense of integrity are most likely to avoid getting involved in unethical activities thus preventing the decline of moral among the young, Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed said at the final of the Grand Debate on Integrity at Universiti Malaya last night.

He said the objective of holding the debate on integrity was to promote and inculcate ethical values and integrity among university students.

"The participants played a very important part as they highlighted the role of the family in effective nurturing of children and this would enhance the students' awareness on the importance of integrity," Mustapa noted.

With the values of integrity imbued in them, students would be able to promote fairness and help eradicate corruption in society, he added.

The debate was organised by the Institute of Integrity Malaysia and Malaysian Universities Debate Council.

UM wins grand prize

The final was between Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The topic was "The role of the family in nurturing effective integrity in children".

UM team who proposes comprises Sharizan Sabini, Mohd Zul Fadhli Khairudin, Mohd Danial Azman and Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Fauzi (reserved).

Opposing the motion was the UTM team made up of Mohd Zaki Ismail, Khairul Afsan Abu Bakar, Sakinah Al-Mubarakah Muhamad and Mohd Syarifuddin Nazri (reserved).

UM won the RM5000 prize in the final while Khairul Afsan Abu Bakar was adjudged the best debater.