TAR UC’s fees to go up from next year, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
TAR UC tuition fees to see slight increase only, assures Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: Tuition fees at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) will see a slight increase following inflation adjustment next year, said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
“I wish to assure that there won’t be a drastic increase, with only a slight adjustment on the tuition fees.
“It won’t be much of a difference, especially when compared to what the existing students are paying,” said the MCA president.
TAR UC is owned by TARC Education Foundation. Dr Wee is the foundation’s board of trustees chairman.
He said the new intake of students would pay slightly higher tuition fees starting next year.
“It is normal for the new fees structure to be implemented on new students. We let them know first so that they can be prepared.
“But no matter what, even after the adjustment, TAR UC will still be the most affordable among all IPTS (private higher institutions),” he said yesterday.
Dr Wee was one of the key panellists at a briefing and forum on TAR UC allocation held at Wisma MCA here.
The other panellists included party vice-president Datuk Yew Teong Look, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo who is the daughter of former MCA president and also TAR College founder Tun Tan Siew Sin, as well as lawyer and TAR UC alumni association former committee member Marcus Tan.
Party secretary-general Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun was the moderator.
Dr Wee said it was common for private higher institutions to revise their fees according to inflation adjustment annually.
It is something made known to the students when they enrol.
“Since TAR UC is a private tertiary institution, it has also made such adjustments in the past.
“However, worries over higher tuition fees grew following the government’s cutting of the RM30mil matching grant.
“But I wish to assure that it won’t.
“We will find ways to generate more income while keeping costs low,” he said, adding that it included imposing higher fees on international students.
Dr Wee also called on the audience to support TAR UC by helping to increase its student intake.
On Dec 6, it was passed in Dewan Rakyat that the government will only provide TAR UC with a development fund of RM5.5mil instead of the RM30mil matching grant.
The matching grant is a commitment made to MCA by the previous administration to ensure that these institutions continue to offer quality education to the young.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng reportedly said MCA should break its ties with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and TAR UC before the government could provide more allocation for the two institutions.
Dr Wee reiterated that MCA will not break ties with the institutions that have been professionally managed in terms of governance and finance without any political influence.