TAR UC is a ‘dream maker’ for many students

IT feels odd for me as a Malay to be writing this to defend a so-called “Chinese” institution, but then again, this is not a racial thing.

I have been a lecturer at the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) for 10 years now and never have I, in all those years, felt that I was discriminated against.

I share Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin’s views (“Helping TAR UC will heal the nation”, Views, The Star, Jan 4; online at tinyurl.com/star-taruc) that the funding should be maintained for TAR UC. I am compelled as an educator to speak on behalf of my students in support of their “lifeline”.

TAR UC has produced thousands of accountants and engineers and what have you, all made possible by the affordable fees that it charges. Many a time students have to miss classes because they have to work. We see students coming to class tired having to cope with work (ie earning a living) as well as assignments and tutorials – and despite all these challenges they are still able to excel in their studies.

You see, PTPTN (the National Higher Education Fund Corp) loans cover only 85% of the tuition fees, and some of the parents being from the B40 (lower income) group are themselves trying to make ends meet; so, more often than not, these students have to chip in to reduce the burden carried by their parents.

These are good students, mind you, with 7As, 8As and even 10s. Please do not deprive these students of a good education and the dream of a better life. TAR UC is a lifeline for students from the lower and middle income groups in society – indeed, TAR UC is a “dream maker” where success or failure is only differentiated by the hard work you are willing to put in.

It is the right of all Malaysians to be able to access a good education and have hopes for a better life. The government, any government for that matter, should offer that hope to the rakyat. I plead with the PH government to continue the financial support much needed by students from underprivileged backgrounds.

PUAN M Gombak, Selangor Kuala Lumpur