THE unity government’s RM40 million grant for Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) will aid many students and families, Wee Ka Siong said.  

The MCA president expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for approving the grant, saying it will be key to providing quality education to Malaysians.  

“When I met Anwar in December, not long after he was appointed as the prime minister, he was determined in approving this allocation to support TAR UMT in providing quality education to Malaysians,” the Ayer Hitam MP said in a statement today.  

TAR UMT was previously known as TAR University College and was founded in 1969.  

Wee also thanked former nemesis DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who is now the transport minister, for sharing the news during the latter’s visit to TAR UMT.  

“The allocation given just before the Chinese New Year is an angpow and indeed great news,” he said.  

Wee hoped that the commitment by the unity government to channel funds to TAR UMT would end the controversy surrounding the allocation for the university.  

“Let’s continue our focus on providing quality and affordable education to the younger generation and training more talents for our nation,” he added.  

The government grant ends the bitterness created by the 22-month Pakatan Harapan administration when the then finance minister Lim Guan Eng said that the government would provide RM60 million in funding should MCA relinquish its ownership of the university.  

A war of words ensued later between Wee and Lim on the matter before the government approved an annual allocation of at least RM30 million for a trust fund. 

Lim said that the funds would be managed by the Tunku Abdul Rahman Alumni Association.  

Others who attended the event were Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim and TAR UMT board of governors chairman and former MCA president Liow Tiong Lai. – January 17, 2023.