The ESU Malaysia–Taylor’s Public Speaking Competition crowned law student Jenny Ooi champion, earning her the chance to compete against speakers from over 50 countries.
PETALING JAYA: After four years of attempts, Malaysian law student Jenny Ooi Jie Yuee has finally clinched the top prize at the English Speaking Union (ESU) Malaysia–Taylor’s Public Speaking Competition 2026.
Ooi, a second-year law student at the University of Bristol, emerged champion at the national finals held at Taylor’s College Lakeside Campus in Subang last Saturday.
She received RM1,500 in cash and an all-expenses-paid trip to London, where she will represent Malaysia at the ESU International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) from July 13 to 18.
Reflecting on her long journey, Ooi said repeated setbacks over the years had left her “devastated and heartbroken”, but her ambition to represent Malaysia on the global stage kept her motivated to return year after year.
“Whenever the competition was announced, I just couldn’t resist taking part. The opportunity to represent Malaysia and compete against champions from around 40 countries has always been a personal goal and challenge,” she said.
She added that each participation helped her grow in confidence and refine her public speaking skills, while also allowing her to build connections with fellow Malaysian speakers.
Ooi said she now looks forward to meeting participants from around the world and forging friendships during the upcoming international competition in London.
Organised by ESU Malaysia in collaboration with Taylor’s College, this year’s competition drew about 120 students nationwide during the preliminary rounds, which began in May.
The event was supported by the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA), MIDP Youth Institute and the Education Ministry.
Participants in the preliminary round spoke on the theme “The Light of a Candle Is Transferred to Another Candle – Spring Twilight”, inspired by a haiku by Yosa Buson, while semifinalists addressed “The Power to Question is the Basis of all Human Progress” by Indira Gandhi.
The 10 finalists were assessed on speech substance, delivery, expression and their ability to respond to questions from judges and the audience.
ESU Malaysia president Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah said public speaking remains one of the most common fears, stressing that consistent practice is key to overcoming it.
“The fear of public speaking is shared by many. All good speakers will tell you that they are nervous facing the audience. The only way to be a good speaker is to practise and be prepared,” she said.
She added that ESU Malaysia aims to promote global understanding through English, with such competitions helping to achieve that goal.
Taylor’s College campus director Josephine Tan said the collaboration with ESU Malaysia since 2019 reflects a shared commitment to developing confident communicators.
“In an increasingly AI-driven world, the ability to think critically, communicate thoughtfully and engage in meaningful dialogue will remain essential in building connections and solving challenges together,” she said.
The IPSC, now in its 46th edition, is among the world’s largest public speaking competitions for students aged 16 to 20, bringing together participants from more than 50 countries for a week of cultural exchange and speech contests in London.
Since its inception in 1980, the competition has engaged more than 115,000 young people worldwide.
