TARUC must not be MCA-owned to get public funding, insists Guan Eng

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 22 Nov 2019 6:01PM · 5 Comments

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says the RM30 million Putrajaya has set aside for TARUC will be disbursed as soon as MCA gives up control of the institution. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 20, 2019.

FINANCE Minister Lim Guan Eng is adamant that the government will only channel funds to Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARUC) if MCA relinquishes ownership and control of the institution.

Putrajaya’s decision to withhold RM30 million in funds for TAR UC was one of the issues that angered Chinese voters, who showed their unhappiness by withholding their votes for Pakatan Harapan in the Tanjung Piai by-election last weekend.

PH lost the poll to Barisan Nasional by a landslide.

But Lim today said there plans were plans for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Alumni Association (TAA) to to manage the money for TARUC via a trust fund.

“It is proposed that TAA set up the trust fund as soon as possible, with trustees from the TAA from among the students and a representative from the Ministry of Finance.

“The trust will manage the funds every year without the involvement of the government or any political party, whether MCA or even from PH,” Lim said in a statement.

The RM30 million Putrajaya has set aside for TARUC will be disbursed to the trust, once MCA gives up control of the institution, he added.

“RM30 million for 2019 will be paid to the trust fund once it is set up, and another RM30 will be paid next year.

“The funds from the trust fund can still be disbursed to TAR UC but is subject to the condition that the MCA leadership relinquishes  ownership and administrative control, and positions on the TARUC board of trustees and board of governors,” Lim said.

He added that it was a worldwide practice to not give public funds to entities controlled by political parties so as to prevent corruption, abuse of power and conflict of interest.

PH suffered a 40% drop in Chinese votes in the Tg Piai by-election, according to research outfit Ilham Centre.

Funding for TARUC is a sensitive issue for the Chinese as the 50-year-old institution established by MCA provides scholarships to many Chinese students who are poor. – November 22, 2019.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • I hope LGE is not doing this out of revenge.

    Posted 4 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • LGE want to stick to principle others wont honour the agreement. DAP had misjudged with PAS before. Dont think can trust LGE judgment as he had messed up with PAS before.

    Posted 4 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • LGE is digging his own political grave and at the same time jeopardizing DAP's political fortunes. When will he learn not to politicise the education of the Chinese community. If he continues to stubbornly pursue this stupid strategy it will be adios to DAP in the next elections. All he needs to do is go down to the grassroots and ask Chinese parents what they think about witholding funds from an educational institution which has given a brighter future to hundreds of thousands of Chinese youths. I always knew LGE is not a genius, worse than his father, but I never imagined him being so politically stupid as what he is doing now to TARUC.

    Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • Those who do not want racist politics to thrive in Malaysia will understand clearly LGE's intention for taking the move. The money is withheld solely to make sure UTAR will remain as a sanctified learning institution and is not controlled and prejudiced politically.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Thing is the community holds UTAR much closer than MCA. LGE in holding off UTAR grant in the first place already triggered the anger among the Chinese voters, hence the trashing of PH in Tg Piai by election. To pacify the anger and damage control, LGE came up with this solution.

    LGE made a silly mistake which exposed him as a vengeful person, something penangites know well enough. Now the nation know fully the type of person he is. An opportunist, a turncoat and a good political actor.

    Posted 4 years ago by Butter Scotch · Reply