Zahid promises MCA-linked college funding if BN returns to power

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 6 years ago · Published on 1 Dec 2019 4:13PM · 4 Comments

Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at MCA's annual general assembly today, where he promised allocation to TARUC and UTAR will be reinstated should BN take over as the new government in the next general election. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 1, 2019.

THE general election is still three and a half years away but that did not stop Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from promising that he will reinstate Tunku Abdul Rahman University College’s (TARUC) financial grant if BN returns to power.

The grant to the MCA-linked college, reportedly between RM30 million and RM60 million a year, was cut after the Pakatan Harapan government came to power last year.

It was done to force MCA to relinquish control over the institution.

When opening the 66th MCA annual general assembly at Wisma MCA today, the former deputy prime minister said if more Chinese voters support the opposition coalition, the higher the chances will be that the grants will be reinstated.

“The more Chinese voters swing back to the opposition coalition, the more allocation will be given to TARUC,” Zahid said.

“This is my promise. The promise is we will give allocation to TARUC and Tunku Abdul Rahman University (UTAR), as given by the previous government, when we take over as the (new) government.

“The promise will be fulfilled,” he said.

“If Chinese voters give more support, the allocation will be further increased,” he added.

In the meantime, Zahid said Umno and BN would back their coalition partner’s ongoing fight for a reinstatement of the allocations.

He said this was because matters concerning education shouldn’t be hampered by politics, race or religion.

Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and MCA chief Wee Ka Siong with other coalition leaders at MCA's 66th annual general assembly today in Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 1, 2019.

Budget 2020 had allocated the college only a mere RM1 million, down from RM5.5 million this year.

No matching grant was given.

On November 22, the government agreed to channel RM30 million to TARUC through a trust fund managed by its alumni.

DAP and, in particular, its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, had blamed the cut in financial assistance to the college as one of the reasons for the swing in Chinese votes back to BN and Pakatan Harapan’s heavy defeat in the Tg Piai by-election.

The by-election was won by Wee Jeck Seng of MCA by a massive 15,086 votes. – December 1, 2019.

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Comments

  • A shameless running dog holding the hand of a corrupt to the core racist crook with 82 charges of corruption, CBT and abuse of power!
    Only retards are happy to hear his empty promises as he will be checking in to sg. Buloh resort soon.

    Posted 6 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Umno reduced the grant from 60 M to 50M in 2015 and 30M in 2016. In Nov 2017 tabling the 2018 budget, the 30M was withdraw. Public objection coupled with the hot potato 1MDM forced them to reinstall the 30M back using another account. The 30M is political funding for MCA to get votes not money as TAR EF has a huge war chest right to today. Let the facts appear now. PH is idiot to let this propaganda continue thinking tbey can depend on their achievement by 2023 to campaign. One is political assasination while the other is talking about PH scorecard

    Posted 6 years ago by S L · Reply

  • Can we seriously believe this chap?

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • If he says he, as an opposition, will fight for the funding, we will be grateful. However his intention is to be voted to be in power, only then he will reinstate the funding, then forget it. It is just his fat hope.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply