Liow reminds govt about deal on TAR UC allocations

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s the government’s obligation to continue providing allocations to Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), says its board of governors chairman Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the government’s move to suspend the allocation for the institution was “very uncalled for”.

“TAR UC’s sole purpose is to enable youths to gain access to affordable and quality education.

“I’m puzzled and upset that the TAR UC student population has become a victim in this situation.

“This agreement (for the allocation) is between TAR UC and the government. It has nothing to do with MCA, DAP or whatever political parties,” said Liow, noting that TAR UC had been receiving allocations from the government since it was founded in 1969.

During the tabling of Budget 2020 last month, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng made no mention of matching grants for TAR UC while the development fund for this institution of higher learning was slashed to RM1mil from RM5.5mil.

At the launch of TAR UC’s E-Commerce training centre at its campus here yesterday, Liow said that education should not be politicised.

“When we were upgraded to university college status in 2013, we came to an agreement with the government that TAR UC would receive a maximum grant of RM60mil (annually from the government),” he said.

“The government,” he said, “should understand that TAR UC is a non-profit education institution that is run professionally to benefit young people irrespective of race, background and religion.”

“The grant for TAR UC is for the good of the younger generation and the nation’s growth.

“The government should fulfil this obligation,” he said, adding that everybody knows that TAR UC is doing a good job in helping students to secure a future.

“I am so thankful to the public who raised funds on their own initiative to help TAR UC,” said Liow.

The E-Commerce training centre was established through a tripartite collaboration between TAR UC, Lingnan Modern Technician College and Guangdong Zhuoyue Qiancheng Education Services Co Ltd.

From next month, there will be programmes such as Build Your Online Business with Shopee (beginner and intermediate), E-Commerce Bootcamp, E-Commerce Professional Training Course and a study tour to Lingnan Modern Technician College’s campus in Guangzhou, China, to learn the fundamentals of e-commerce and setting up an online business.