UMJ Law Students Win Second Place in National Anti-Corruption Debate

A debate team from the Faculty of Law at Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta (UMJ) has clinched second place in the 2026 National Anti-Corruption Law Debate Competition. The event, organized by the Magelang City Inspectorate and the Faculty of Law at Muhammadiyah University of Magelang, saw 18 teams from across Indonesia vying for the top spot.

The UMJ team, comprising Lana Riyadh Naeem Abdul Gani Matran, Mohamad Rafi Athallah, and Aqsath Aula Maruf, advanced through several stages. They first passed a video elimination round, then progressed to the top eight, semifinals, and ultimately secured the runner-up position in the national finals.

Rafi, a member of the team, described the preparation as intense and condensed. After qualifying through the video selection, the team had only about three days to prepare for the national-level debates. Their focus was on constructing strong arguments, practicing delivery, and refining articulation to be competition-ready.

Despite facing significant time constraints and initial feelings of inadequacy compared to participants from more experienced universities, the UMJ team remained composed. Rafi noted that this was their first national competition, and the short preparation time was a major hurdle. However, their determination and confidence allowed them to perform well and achieve second place. This success is seen as a crucial starting point for the UMJ debate team, motivating them to pursue further achievements and represent UMJ in future law debates.